Strike averted as Group Health Centre, CUPE reach deal

A strike by Group Health Centre employees represented by CUPE Local 894 has been averted.

64 per cent of the unionized workers voted in favour of a tentative deal with GHC management on Monday after what union leadership described as “challenging” negotiations.

Over 220 health care workers such as registered practical nurses, social workers, physiotherapists as well as clinical support teams represented by CUPE Local 894 were prepared to hit the picket line Tuesday if the tentative deal with GHC was voted down.

Details of the deal have not been disclosed.

“It’s about equity of pay,” said Tracy Fabbricino, CUPE Local 894 president in a phone interview with SooToday on Friday.

“We’re paid less than our competitors. There’s also a lot less long-term employees at the moment. There seems to be a bit of a turnover so we’d like to get that retention and the reason we don’t have it is wages right now. People are leaving to go to the hospital or MyHealth where they get paid a little bit more so we want to lessen that gap so we can retain our workers. 

As a result of some workers leaving, the union stated in a July 19, 2024 news release that remaining members of Local 894 at GHC “are overworked, stressed, and burned out. Our workloads have increased but our pay hasn’t.”

“In the event of a labour disruption at Group Health Centre, we want to assure our patients and community that we have a plan in place to continue providing health care services, minimizing disruptions in care as best as we can,” GHC management stated in a new release of its own July 22, 2024.

The full text of a CUPE Local 894 release follows:

CUPE 894 is pleased to announce that its members have ratified its tentative agreement with the Group Health Centre.

64 per cent of members voted in favour of accepting the agreement. “While negotiating with this employer has been challenging, we are confident that this is the best deal for our members,” said Tracy Fabbricino, president of CUPE 894. “We are thankful strike action wasn’t necessary. This wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from our patients, community, and members.”

CUPE Local 894 members include over 220 health care workers and clerical support teams, including registered practical nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, and many more.

The Group Health Centre is the only community health care centre in the Sault Ste. Marie area that provides essential services for the community, like ophthalmology, ultrasound, x-ray, cardiac rehab, diagnostic imaging, obstetrics, and Same Day Appointment Clinic available to patients that have a family doctor at the Group Health Centre.