Canadian Blood Services (CBS) reached a tentative deal with its support workers on Jan. 8.
The 800 workers, who are represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), had set a strike deadline that day.
Representing about one fifth of CBS' 4,500 employees, the workers had stated that concessions sought by CBS management would pose a serious threat to public health and future safety of the blood collection system.
Both sides were recommending ratification of a deal, but details were not immediately available.
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) president Warren (Smokey) Thomas told the Advertiser earlier in the week that the threat of a strike, while less than ideal, is the only way to ensure errors made in the past are not revisited. He says plans to switch from full-time employees to low-cost casual, part-time staff will put the system at risk.
“The kind of concessions the employer has on the table this time around are to get rid of full-time workers, to get rid of certain classifications of [the] profession and replace them with part-time casual or call-in workers,” he said. “The cuts would be striking at the heart of what is supposed to be an organization that was enshrined with rebuilding Canadians’ trust in the blood services in the wake of the scandal in the 80s.”
OPSEU argues laying off skilled health care workers and replacing them with part-time employees, along with moving toward faster blood-processing measures such as online screening forms, could do more harm than good – even if it meant $100 million in savings for CBS.
“A steady work force can do the job day in and day out, know the routines and understand the value of safety,” Thomas said.
“In health care in general it’s better to have a steady workforce than casual and that shows in health care research – it goes a long way to ensuring safety and that there’s no mistakes made.”
CBS communications specialist Erin McGuey said in an email to the Advertiser that the organization could not comment on the specifics of the negotiations while they were still ongoing.
“However, safety is and always will be our top priority. All decisions regarding automation of equipment, software and processes are made with the goal to improve safety and productivity and provide a better experience for staff and donors,” she said.
She said staff were preparing contingency plans in the event of a strike on Jan. 8.
Thomas said he hopes a strike can be avoided, but says the concessions need to be addressed – and workers do not intend to back down.
“This is one time in life where the interest of unionized workers is in perfect harmony with the interest of the public,” he said.
He added if they go on strike, “it will be a public relations nightmare for us, but we’ll do our best to explain to people that sometimes short-term pain for long-term gain is worth it,” he says. “There’s probably enough blood in the banks – there wouldn’t be any emergency surgeries cancelled or anything like that.”
The strike deadline of Jan. 8 was set on Dec. 23.
