Bargaining Update: Optima Living – WILD ROSE, 047/060

Despite the disruption that the Wild Rose sale caused, we’ve made good progress toward acollective agreement and in establishing a new Chapter, thanks to your commitment to each other and the residents we support.

When Optima Living took over operations, AUPE filed a successorship application with the Labour Board calling on the new employer to accept all the obligations of the previous owner. Optima Living has since fulfilled this obligation and followed the path Chartwell agreed to go down with us, including enhanced mediation, which we started on June 14 and 15.

In preparation for this next hurdle in negotiations, you elected a bargaining team. Thank you to those who stepped forward to represent your fellow members at the table. Because of your dedication we made good progress in June and signed off on the majority of our outstanding non-monetary items and somemonetary items. 

Now, all we need to complete this round of negotiations is the employer’s full monetary proposal, which they were supposed to table on July 5 but unfortunately failed to do so. They will let us know by July 12 if they are prepared to put forward a monetary offer. If not, your negotiations team has agreed to a “me-too” clause, which means our final monetary items will mirror the results of the Chartwell arbitration (if Optima does not table anything or if we cannot come to mutual agreement on what is left outstanding).

If the company does table an offer, it will likely happen in August. Meanwhile, the Chartwell hearings are scheduled to conclude July 7, with a decision expected in the fall.

Thank you again for continuing to push through this final phase. Despite the bumps in the road, you’ve never lost sight of the finish line – a fair collective agreement that will support your needs and those of the residents who call Wild Rose home. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact your negotiations team.

WILD ROSE NEGOTIATIONS TEAM

Stella Diaz [email protected] 780-721-6496

Praveena Naidu [email protected] 780-721 3841

Inna Taraday [email protected]

Alt: Rachelle Obcena [email protected] 780-293 0340

AUPE RESOURCE TEAM

Merryn Edwards, Negotiator [email protected] 

Michelle Szalynski, Organizer [email protected] or 403-634-8262

Guy Quenneville, MSO [email protected] or 780-237-8253

Celia Shea, Communications [email protected] or 780-720-8122