OPSEU wins right to represent medical school staff

PRESS RELEASE

NORTHERN ONTARIO SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

************************* Statement from Northern Ontario School of Medicine regarding unionization

SYDBURY, ON - (March 10) - On January 8, 2009, as part of a settlement of two outstanding Ontario Labour Relations Board Applications, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), Laurentian University Staff Union (LUSU), and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) agreed to hold a certification vote.

Both LUSU and OPSEU were listed on the certification vote ballot, along with the option to remain non-unionized.

On February 10 and 11, 2009, eligible employees at all NOSM locations* voted in favour of union representation.

However, while the combined total vote for LUSU and OPSEU was more than 50 percent, no single union received a majority.

Consequently, a run-off vote was held at NOSM on March 3 and 4, 2009.

The majority of eligible NOSM employees voted for OPSEU to represent them in their employment relationship with NOSM.

It is expected that NOSM and OPSEU will be in discussions over the next few weeks concerning the scope of the bargaining unit, and that bargaining for a first collective agreement between the parties will commence shortly thereafter.

*NOSM employees are located in Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Kenora, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins.

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is a pioneering faculty of medicine.

The School is a joint initiative of Lakehead and Laurentian Universities with main campuses in Thunder Bay and Sudbury, and multiple teaching and research sites across Northern Ontario.

By educating skilled physicians and undertaking health research suited to community needs, the School will become a cornerstone of community health care in Northern Ontario.

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