To all proud Group members,
In our last IT Bytes #13, we informed the members that we felt that there was no recourse other than to declare an impasse and file for Arbitration, which is the final step in the bargaining process.
We have carefully prepared the application to the Board and filed it on July 14th, 2023.
The application consists of three steps, two steps from the bargaining agent and one from the employer, all with delays in between. Once every form was filed, the application was completed on August 2nd, 2023.
Your team will be hard at work finalizing a detailed brief to present at the arbitration hearing. We now await answers from the Board to schedule arbitration dates. Meanwhile, we are going to proceed and try to resolve some or all the remaining issues through mediation if that is at all possible.
Mediation meetings are scheduled from October 3rd to October 6th with the mediator assigned by the Board (Tracey O’Brien). You may rest assured that this will not delay the arbitration process which should be scheduled around November or early December.
We will keep you updated as soon as new information becomes available.
In Solidarity,
Robert Scott
IT Group Bargaining Officer