The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

"A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, November 3, 1998 - 3 Hospital workers on edge after OHA quits talks By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Talks between the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and its unionized employees have broken off and there's no end to a simmering labour dispute in sight, says a local union representative. Cathy Loyst, an RPN at Lakeridge Health Port Perry who doubles as the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) rep at Port Perry's Local 1926, sald yesterday that the OHA has pulled out of con- tract negotiations until the unions agree to allow it to contract out union jobs to outside organizations. That's something that the unions aren't going to budge on, she says. "Talks between the OHA and SEIU (Service Employees International Union) have broken down because the OHA wants our contracting out lan- guage so they can outsource us and be a profitable busi- ness," she said. "The fair and unbiased arbitration process has been taken away and replaced by hand-picked Tory judges." The talks were held on Oct. 22 and 23, but broke off after the OHA walked away from the table when they heard the unions weren't going to shift on outsourcing, said Ms Loyst. "I'm disappointed that they're not negotiating something. We're still hope- ful that a contract will be negotiated," she said. The local hospital employees 80 CUPE mem- bers, and support of the union stand is strong here, said Ms Loyst. "We're not budging, not 'Equipment stolen from job site Durham Regional Police were called to a construction site on Old Simcoe Rd. last week after thieves stole close to $1,000 in sewer equipment. Sometime between Oct. 23 and 26, thieves stole three red water main valves which weigh approximately 200-pounds each and are 16-inches long and stand 24-inches high. The Mueller valves are worth $650 in total. The thieves also stole two black Mueller valve boxes from the site. They stand four- feet high, come in three sections, and are worth $150. Also taken during that time was 69-feet of three-quarter-inch copper pipe which was coiled up. It is valued at $200. at this point, unless they give us a good deal," she sald. "A 100 per cent wage increase would be nice, but it's no good if you're not working." The next step for the union is to wait until Nov. 23 to see what comes out of a meeting between the OHA and SEIU. "We're negotiating this together so we'll have to wait and see. Maybe they'll give us a better deal this time," said Ms Loyst. No strike votes have been held so far, but "any- The Great Boot Event! thing's possible," said the local CUPE rep. CUPE hospital employ- ees, who have been working without a contract since 1995, say that outsourcing would not only cost them their jobs, but hurt patients as well. "If they get this, con- tracting out language, they can bring in their own peo- ple and throw out our peo- ple," said Ms Loyst. "By contracting out and bringing in new employees from a nursing service you're losing the sense of Shop now for the best selection in winter boots for men, women and kids...by the best Canadian by 0-40 SELECTED DISCONTINUED BOOT STYLES FOR MEN, KIDS AND WOMEN Sorel, Hush Puppy, Kodiak and more! icturers! % OFF community in the hospi- tals." CUPE workers at the Port Perry hospital include Registered Practical Nurses, maintenance and custodial workers, and employees in other depart- ments. Save on great brand = names in wm Ca i ----