By Dan Hilborn
Published July 8, 2006
The Hospital Employees' Union is going back to the B.C. Labour Relations Board to ensure that Compass Group Canada lives up to its obligations to workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby.
Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager for the union, said Thursday that she intends to continue fighting for the 25 employees who were given layoff notices five days after the board imposed a contract settlement on the firm.
"The fact that Compass is walking away from the contract does not take away the employees' entitlement," Darcy said. "For people earning $10 an hour, this is significant, and we're going to fight to get them every penny they're entitled to."
The settlement, which provided for pay raises of 24 per cent, included an additional $1 an hour retroactive to May 1, 2006 and a lump sum signing bonus of about $800 per employee, Darcy said.
Darcy said the company's refusal to abide by the terms of the board settlement are astounding, especially in light of the fact that the U.K.-based company reported profits in excess of $530 million over a recent six-month period.
"How can they, with any credibility, plead poverty?" Darcy asked. "It just doesn't wash. I challenge them, if they're pleading poverty now: open your books.
"This is not a company that's on the verge of bankruptcy. When we're talking about those kinds of profits, they're walking away from a commercial contract that would pay these workers $11 an hour this year and $12 an hour next.
"There's something very wrong with that picture. These workers should not be subjected to this uncertainty, and the health-care system should not be subjected to this."
Margi Blamey, media relations officer for the union, said the union was contemplating legal action against Compass but has since learned that the labour board still holds jurisdiction.
"The contract is a contract," Blamey said. "If the company refuses to abide by the contract, even though it has terminated its health services agreement with Normanna, I believe the arbitrator holds jurisdiction.
"That contract is still in force for the 60 days, so there is every expectation that our members will be paid all the moneys due to them," Blamey added.
The union's comments came just hours after Normanna executive director Margaret Douglas-Matthews announced that B.C.-based Servantage will take over the contract for the 25 housekeepers, laundry workers and dietary aides at Normanna after the current contract is handed over on Aug. 30.
Servantage will also host a job fair next week for current employees at Normanna, and Douglas-Matthews is hoping that anyone who wants to continue working at the care centre will be allowed to keep their job.
Darcy and Blamey both confirmed that the union is looking forward to establishing a good working relationship with Servantage.
Roselin Chandra, one of the affected food services workers, said the majority of Normanna employees recognize that their protracted labour problems were the result of Compass's actions and not the fault of the care home.
"Basically, we got screwed by Compass. I don't know how else to put it," Chandra said. "We're very disappointed. They wasted our time and money. And when we did get a contract, we got pink slips instead."
And with the new contract in place between Normanna and Servantage, it appears unlikely that the Fraser Health Authority will step into the fray.
"Our role, from our perspective, is that we fund contractors to provide care to the residents and then we monitor that care," said Michael Bernard, senior communications consultant for the regional health authority. "We don't get involved unless there is a direct impact on residential care delivery.
"At this point in time, it is not having a direct impact such that we have to step in," he said.
Bernard noted that both Compass and Normanna are within their rights to terminate the contract, as long as the care of patients is not compromised.
The Burnaby NOW also spoke to several family members of residents living in Normanna care home, all of whom applauded the quality of care provided at the facility.
"I feel the staff here is absolutely wonderful, and I don't believe there'll be any problems," said Ellen Henderson, who has had a family member in the facility for the past six years. "The quality of care the residents are given is excellent. I'd say most people are extremely pleased with the quality of care they're receiving."
"I just want to give some support to the workers because they really do a good job," said Laura Sollero, whose husband has been in Normanna for the past two-and-a-half years. "It's a friendly place."
Another family member, Theresa Facchin, said the Normanna employees have always done their best, no matter what was going on around them. "For the money that they've been paid to do that, they're pretty good," Facchin said. "But we do hope that things will get straightened out so we can keep the workers that are there now."
Meanwhile, Brenda Brown, vice- president of human resources for Compass Group Canada, said her company "resigned the account simply because it was no longer economically viable.
"The financials wouldn't work for us with the new collective agreement - not so much the collective agreement but the labour board decision," Brown said.
Brown was unable to respond when asked why Compass refused to pay the arbitrated settlement that was based on the wages paid by the Compass's major competitors, Sodexho and Aramark.
"I really can't comment on how they run their businesses," Brown said. "I don't know what their commercial contracts are and I can't say why it's viable for them. Every account has its own contract, and the terms are not public knowledge."
Brown also said that Compass is continuing to negotiate the terms of employment for another 1,000 union members who work on Vancouver Island and with the provincial health services authority.
"Everyone always wants to reach a negotiated agreement that best suits both parties," Brown said.
"That's what we all aim to do. We go into it with the best intentions in mind."
Showing posts with label HEU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HEU. Show all posts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Employees get layoff notices
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 5, 2006
Unionized workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby are in shock this week after the U.K.-based Compass Group Canada rejected a B.C. Labour Relations Board-imposed settlement that would have given them up to a 24 per cent pay raise over the next two years.
"This was a pretty awful Canada Day gift for these folks," said Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees' Union. "Compass is the largest catering company in the world, and a collective agreement that will give these 25 workers comparable wages with others in the industry surely isn't a make-or-break financial situation for this global corporation."
Last week, the Burnaby NOW reported that B.C. Labour Relations Board arbitrator Brian Foley had imposed a new collective agreement on the company after more than a year of bargaining. At the time, Brenda Brown, the vice president of human resources for Compass, said the company was reviewing their options and had no comment on the imposed settlement.
The layoffs are now scheduled to take effect on Aug. 31. Affected staff were meeting with Normanna administrators to discuss the matter on Tuesday morning, and Darcy said the HEU was hoping to schedule its own meeting with the workers to discuss their next move as soon as possible.
Margaret Douglas-Matthews, the executive director of 100-bed care home, said Normanna is now seeking a new contractor to take over the contract.
"Compass came to us and asked us to pay the lion's share of the settlement," Douglas-Matthews said. "With our current financial restraints we're not able to assume this additional financial burden."
Burnaby city councillor Gary Begin, who is the chairman of the board at St. Michael's Care Home, also in Burnaby, said it may now fall to the Fraser Health Authority to step in and try to settle the two-year-old labour dispute.
"If they can't seem to operate the place in a peaceful manner, I think for the sake of the residents, Fraser Health would want to step in and make sure there is labour peace," Begin said. "We non- profits get our funding from them, so they have a vested interest in what goes on."
Darcy agreed that the local health authority should look into the matter. "I do think the Fraser health Authority should be concerned," she said. "This can only lead to more instability in providing care."
Darcy noted that the situation at Normanna does not bode well for 1,000 other HEU employees who are currently negotiating with the Compass Group for new contracts in the Vancouver Island and provincial health authorities.
"What's really going on here, we don't know," Darcy said. "We're trying to see if there are any legal or other options under the Labour Relations Act."
Douglas-Matthews also noted that Normanna has still not received its 2006/07 operating budget from the Fraser Health Authority, which was supposed to take effect on April 1.
Regardless of who take over the contract, Douglas-Matthews said she hopes that the current employees keep their jobs. "I'm very pleased with the quality of work, the attitude of staff and their team work," she said.
Published July 5, 2006
Unionized workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby are in shock this week after the U.K.-based Compass Group Canada rejected a B.C. Labour Relations Board-imposed settlement that would have given them up to a 24 per cent pay raise over the next two years.
"This was a pretty awful Canada Day gift for these folks," said Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees' Union. "Compass is the largest catering company in the world, and a collective agreement that will give these 25 workers comparable wages with others in the industry surely isn't a make-or-break financial situation for this global corporation."
Last week, the Burnaby NOW reported that B.C. Labour Relations Board arbitrator Brian Foley had imposed a new collective agreement on the company after more than a year of bargaining. At the time, Brenda Brown, the vice president of human resources for Compass, said the company was reviewing their options and had no comment on the imposed settlement.
The layoffs are now scheduled to take effect on Aug. 31. Affected staff were meeting with Normanna administrators to discuss the matter on Tuesday morning, and Darcy said the HEU was hoping to schedule its own meeting with the workers to discuss their next move as soon as possible.
Margaret Douglas-Matthews, the executive director of 100-bed care home, said Normanna is now seeking a new contractor to take over the contract.
"Compass came to us and asked us to pay the lion's share of the settlement," Douglas-Matthews said. "With our current financial restraints we're not able to assume this additional financial burden."
Burnaby city councillor Gary Begin, who is the chairman of the board at St. Michael's Care Home, also in Burnaby, said it may now fall to the Fraser Health Authority to step in and try to settle the two-year-old labour dispute.
"If they can't seem to operate the place in a peaceful manner, I think for the sake of the residents, Fraser Health would want to step in and make sure there is labour peace," Begin said. "We non- profits get our funding from them, so they have a vested interest in what goes on."
Darcy agreed that the local health authority should look into the matter. "I do think the Fraser health Authority should be concerned," she said. "This can only lead to more instability in providing care."
Darcy noted that the situation at Normanna does not bode well for 1,000 other HEU employees who are currently negotiating with the Compass Group for new contracts in the Vancouver Island and provincial health authorities.
"What's really going on here, we don't know," Darcy said. "We're trying to see if there are any legal or other options under the Labour Relations Act."
Douglas-Matthews also noted that Normanna has still not received its 2006/07 operating budget from the Fraser Health Authority, which was supposed to take effect on April 1.
Regardless of who take over the contract, Douglas-Matthews said she hopes that the current employees keep their jobs. "I'm very pleased with the quality of work, the attitude of staff and their team work," she said.
Union to get raise
By Dan Hilborn
Published July 1, 2006
Unionized housekeepers, laundry and dietary service workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby and the Evergreen Baptist Home in White Rock will receive wage increases of up to 24 per cent over the next two years, thanks to a B.C. Labour Relations Board arbitrator's ruling handed down this week.
Arbitrator Brian Foley announced on Monday that he will uphold the terms of a mediated agreement reached in April after more than a year of negotiations between the Hospital Employees' Union and the Canadian division of U.K.-based Compass Group.
"The 24 per cent may sound like a lot - and it is if you're making $9.86 an hour - but it says something about what's happening to the labour market and health care," said Mike Old, spokesperson for the Hospital Employees' Union. "We've had a very difficult time getting Compass to negotiate, so this is a pretty positive development for our members."
The agreement, which translates into pay raises of up to $2.32 an hour for some of the workers, is the same one that union members voted 100 per cent in favour of when it was first recommended by the mediator in April. At the time, the proposal was rejected by the company.
Brenda Brown, vice-president of human resources for Compass's Canadian head office, said on Wednesday that the company is reviewing the LRB ruling and has no further comment at this time.
"At this point we're reviewing the decision and we're not making a decision as to what we're going to do," Brown said. "We're reviewing our options."
The settlement, which is retroactive to May 1, 2006, gives HEU members at the two facilities immediate pay raises of between $1 and $1.32 an hour, and a further $1 an hour increase on Jan. 1, 2007. The proposal also includes lump sum payments, shift differential premiums and transportation allowances.
The contract is in line with the wages paid by Compass's major competitors - Aramark and Sodexho - and comes as the HEU continues its negotiations on behalf of more than 1,000 Compass dietary and housekeeping workers in the Provincial Health Services Authority and the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
The union is hoping the award will encourage the company to adopt a more 'realistic bargaining position' in its negotiations for the other contracts, said an HEU press release.
"Compass needs to look beyond the bottom line and take its responsibilities to B.C. patients and workers more seriously," HEU secretary-business manager Judy Darcy said in a prepared statement.
Those further contract talks between the HEU and Compass broke off last week, and the union is now seeking a strike mandate.
Published July 1, 2006
Unionized housekeepers, laundry and dietary service workers at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby and the Evergreen Baptist Home in White Rock will receive wage increases of up to 24 per cent over the next two years, thanks to a B.C. Labour Relations Board arbitrator's ruling handed down this week.
Arbitrator Brian Foley announced on Monday that he will uphold the terms of a mediated agreement reached in April after more than a year of negotiations between the Hospital Employees' Union and the Canadian division of U.K.-based Compass Group.
"The 24 per cent may sound like a lot - and it is if you're making $9.86 an hour - but it says something about what's happening to the labour market and health care," said Mike Old, spokesperson for the Hospital Employees' Union. "We've had a very difficult time getting Compass to negotiate, so this is a pretty positive development for our members."
The agreement, which translates into pay raises of up to $2.32 an hour for some of the workers, is the same one that union members voted 100 per cent in favour of when it was first recommended by the mediator in April. At the time, the proposal was rejected by the company.
Brenda Brown, vice-president of human resources for Compass's Canadian head office, said on Wednesday that the company is reviewing the LRB ruling and has no further comment at this time.
"At this point we're reviewing the decision and we're not making a decision as to what we're going to do," Brown said. "We're reviewing our options."
The settlement, which is retroactive to May 1, 2006, gives HEU members at the two facilities immediate pay raises of between $1 and $1.32 an hour, and a further $1 an hour increase on Jan. 1, 2007. The proposal also includes lump sum payments, shift differential premiums and transportation allowances.
The contract is in line with the wages paid by Compass's major competitors - Aramark and Sodexho - and comes as the HEU continues its negotiations on behalf of more than 1,000 Compass dietary and housekeeping workers in the Provincial Health Services Authority and the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
The union is hoping the award will encourage the company to adopt a more 'realistic bargaining position' in its negotiations for the other contracts, said an HEU press release.
"Compass needs to look beyond the bottom line and take its responsibilities to B.C. patients and workers more seriously," HEU secretary-business manager Judy Darcy said in a prepared statement.
Those further contract talks between the HEU and Compass broke off last week, and the union is now seeking a strike mandate.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Health contract rejected
By Dan Hilborn
Published May 24, 2006
Unionized employees at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby had their hopes of a new contract dashed last week when the Compass Group rejected the terms of a first collective agreement that was recommended by B.C. Labour Relations Board mediator Brian Foley.
"This is quite astonishing to us, and we're very disappointed," said Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager for the Hospital Employees' Union, the largest health-care union in B.C. "Both parties agreed in good faith to recommend this proposal to their principals, and then Compass refused to accept it.
"This is completely unreasonable and shows a callous disregard for our members' work and our seniors' care," said Darcy, who noted that the union has reached settlements with Compass's major competitors - Aramark and Sodexho.
"It's time for Compass to step up to the plate."
The union, which has been bargaining on behalf of 60 workers at both Normanna and the Evergreen care home in White Rock since last summer, had a unanimous strike vote in January, at which time the two sides agreed to go into mediation.
Union members voted 100 per cent in favour of the mediator's proposal on May 8 and 9.
Roselin Chandra, a six-year employee at Normanna, said she had her wages dropped from $21 an hour to $14 after the provincial government enacted Bill 29 in 2002, and she was looking forward to the modest pay raises and signing bonus offered in the mediator's settlement.
She was also upset by the fact that, during a company forum at Douglas College last month, employees were told Compass had reached its revenue targets and was looking forward to giving its workers pay raises.
"I'm very angry," Chandra said. "Compass doesn't want to pay a dime extra to increase our wages."
Under terms of the proposed settlement, workers who make $9.50 an hour would have had their pay raised to $11 this year and to $12 next year.
Other staff who earned $14.24 an hour would have their wages rise to $15.76 this year and $16.76 in 2007.
The rejected settlement also included a signing bonus of $800 for full-time regular employees, $500 for part-time workers and $250 for casuals.
Compass now has until May 20 to list its specific objections to the mediator's proposal, after which an arbitration hearing will be set and a final, binding decision will be passed down.
Ed Borkowski, the director of media relations for Compass in Toronto, said he could offer no comment about the settlement offer.
"While negotiations are ongoing, we don't speak about anything," Borkowski said.
"It wouldn't be fair to any of the parties involved. Once it's complete and there's an amicable resolution, which everyone hopes for, we can discuss the steps that took place."
Published May 24, 2006
Unionized employees at the Normanna rest home in Burnaby had their hopes of a new contract dashed last week when the Compass Group rejected the terms of a first collective agreement that was recommended by B.C. Labour Relations Board mediator Brian Foley.
"This is quite astonishing to us, and we're very disappointed," said Judy Darcy, secretary-business manager for the Hospital Employees' Union, the largest health-care union in B.C. "Both parties agreed in good faith to recommend this proposal to their principals, and then Compass refused to accept it.
"This is completely unreasonable and shows a callous disregard for our members' work and our seniors' care," said Darcy, who noted that the union has reached settlements with Compass's major competitors - Aramark and Sodexho.
"It's time for Compass to step up to the plate."
The union, which has been bargaining on behalf of 60 workers at both Normanna and the Evergreen care home in White Rock since last summer, had a unanimous strike vote in January, at which time the two sides agreed to go into mediation.
Union members voted 100 per cent in favour of the mediator's proposal on May 8 and 9.
Roselin Chandra, a six-year employee at Normanna, said she had her wages dropped from $21 an hour to $14 after the provincial government enacted Bill 29 in 2002, and she was looking forward to the modest pay raises and signing bonus offered in the mediator's settlement.
She was also upset by the fact that, during a company forum at Douglas College last month, employees were told Compass had reached its revenue targets and was looking forward to giving its workers pay raises.
"I'm very angry," Chandra said. "Compass doesn't want to pay a dime extra to increase our wages."
Under terms of the proposed settlement, workers who make $9.50 an hour would have had their pay raised to $11 this year and to $12 next year.
Other staff who earned $14.24 an hour would have their wages rise to $15.76 this year and $16.76 in 2007.
The rejected settlement also included a signing bonus of $800 for full-time regular employees, $500 for part-time workers and $250 for casuals.
Compass now has until May 20 to list its specific objections to the mediator's proposal, after which an arbitration hearing will be set and a final, binding decision will be passed down.
Ed Borkowski, the director of media relations for Compass in Toronto, said he could offer no comment about the settlement offer.
"While negotiations are ongoing, we don't speak about anything," Borkowski said.
"It wouldn't be fair to any of the parties involved. Once it's complete and there's an amicable resolution, which everyone hopes for, we can discuss the steps that took place."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
