HomeMy WebLinkAboutSmith/Arnott Group 11-08-25
IN THE MATTER OF AN ARBITRATION
Between:
Sault Area Hospital
("Employer")
-and-
Ontario Public Service Employees Union and its Local 620
("O.P.S.E.U.")
-and-
Smith Group Grievance 2009-0620-0008; and
Arnott Grievance 2010-0620-0007
WHEREAS the Local 620 President submitted the above noted grievances, the parties made oral
arguments regarding the substantive issues with respect to each of these grievances on 25 August
2011 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario;
1) The Parties agree that I have the jurisdiction to hear the above noted grievances.
2) The parties were afforded the opportunity to make oral submissions with regard to these
gnevances.
3) The above noted grievances both deal with the same issue: inequitable distribution of shifts
for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs).
4) It is important to note that the public's expectation is that all hospitals provide the highest
level of health care that is possible at all times. Further, the Employer must also face liability
issues to the extent that the public's expectation is that only qualified and skilled employees
will be scheduled to provide the required health care services.
5) Having reviewed the collective agreement, it is clear that the parties have agreed to schedule
shifts in a fair and equitable manner. However, the Employer must also turn its mind to
scheduleing employees on the basis of an individual's skills set for the objective of providing
quality health care services.
6) It appears that each of these grievances is attempting to achieve something through
arbitration, which has not been achieved at the bargaining table, namely "cross-training".
More importantly, I find that the proper venue to address the issue of cross-training would be
through central or local bargaining initiatives.
7) After hearing the parties' cases about each of the above noted grievances, each of these
grievance matters are hereby dismissed without reasons.
Dated on 25th day of August 2011 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
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