Whltby Fee Pnm, , Weosday, Juwy 26.1994, Page 15 Mental heal.th agency strike contin ues PROM PAGE 1 operate the homes with eight managers and six replacement workers. While Ontario labour law generally prohibits the use of replacement workers exceptions are made when resiâential care is provided to people with mental health problems. Afteril1bargaining meetinos, three attempta at conciliation and a mediation session -- held over the past year -- failed to produce a seUtlement, the union opted to strike. But Whitby lawyer David Sima, chief negotator and secre- tary of the volunteer board that runs the non-profit agency, said management is prepared to resumne discussions. «Wel*go back as soon as they're (union) willing to talk to us. The mediator said he's onIy a phone cali awalr,» said Sima. Smnce the dspute involves a first contract, either party has the right. to request the govern- ment to impose a settlemient 30 days after employe are in a 1egalstrike positioni usimaexpresd surprise that the union did not apply for first- contract arbitration. «Mhe legisiation provides for it and we recognize that. It's My anticipation of how it's going to go,» he said. According to Sima, the union s «significant monetary dem ande» created the impasse. "With the social contract we don't have the resources,» he said. The corporation -- which han no affiliation with All Saints' Anglican Church, although many of its board members attend the church receives fiunding from tZ ncialministries. threprbjicof its $1.6-million budget cornes'from the Ministry of Health, with the remainder from the Mimistry of Housing and the Ministry of Community and Social Services via Durham Region's social services depart- ment. Sims explained that provincial s"cal contract legisiation per- mnits public employees a wage increase if a first collective aeeent 1, involved. r-0:~ position is if they get an increase, we don't get t he fund- ing to pay for it,» he said. Union officiaIs dispute Sime' contention that monetary demands are the biggest impedi- ment to a settlement. «It is from their perspective," said CUPE representative Bob «etfrom ours, it'. the language issue. We haven't got- ten as far as addressing econo- inic issues,» he said. Toop said the employees, who earn about $30,000 annually appreciate the board's fiînanciaf predicainent. «We understand the economic times, but we can't get beyond the basic ingredients of a firet agrement, he said. in other circumatances Toop said the union may well have applied for first-oontract arbit- ration. «But the employees were under such stress ini the workplace that they almost had to get out of there te ,et some normalcy in their lives,' he said. "If you go out to the picket line and talk te them youll find they're under less stress now than i the past two months.Y Amnong its accusations, the union charges there have been cases of clients being fimproperly discharged, documents tampered with and provincial health and safety laws ignored. The union has asked the health ministry te investigate the alleged infractions and sent a copy te Durham Centre MPP Drurnmond White. White could not be reached for comment. Health ministry spokesperson Paul Kilbertus conired that the ministry has received «anonymous ph one calis and let- ters» about the agency, but there is little it can do at this point. "We told them we can't follow up on anonymous calîs,» said Kilbertus. «Obviously the accusations are a concern, b ut we need. a littie more te gzo on,» he said. Kilbertus said the ministry is also leery of becoming entangled in an employer-employee -dis- pute. "If someoe were te corne for- ward and talk on the record that would be differentt» he said. Union bargaining committee member Bri 'dHeise said the Al Saints boar has no conception of working conditions at the homes. «We work there, they dun't,» she said. Ail Saints rune 29 bedo in its three Whitby facilities throug the operating naine of Coîbornîe Residential Services. Four cf the beds are 'criass beda' for persons not îl11'e"Y h to be admîtted to hiyPsaye- atric Hospital or the psychiatric ward at Oshawa General Hospi- tal. The remaining 25 beds are for long-term care. Ail Saints also provides sup- port services te about 100 clients in Durham Region. A CIBC RRSP LOAN Makes You Money For Every $1 ,000.00 You Borrow You Pay $85.84 Per Month Annual Cost $30.08 At Prime Rate Currently 5.5Q%Éo* (Variable Rate) 1 st Year's Interest $37.50 Earned (Based on 3.75%) *SUBJECI TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE PLUS YOUR INCOME TAX SA VINGS... YOU CAN'T GO WRONGI w m yw2rM.. ? 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