An arbitrator settlement has been reached between the Red Cross and its 3,000 personal support workers (PSWs) represented by SEIU Healthcare.
PSWs, including those in Wellington County, went on strike on Dec. 11 for two weeks before their contract went to an arbitrator who handed down a decision on Jan. 8.
“I’m happy to report that on Jan. 8, a neutral arbitrator issued a new contract for our PSWs working out of Red Cross,” SEIU president Sharleen Stewart said in a press release.
“It is an improvement over the previous tentative agreement and proves that when we stand together, we can put pressure on employers and government for change.”
Interest arbitration is normally reserved for essential service workers, but was used in this case to resolve the two-week strike before the Christmas holidays.
The contract is binding for the workers and employer, Red Cross Care Partners.
The workers were seeking improved wages and mileage. Red Cross PSWs are paid about $15 an hour and are seeking parity with similar healthcare jobs which range in salary from $16 to $20 an hour in nursing homes and hospitals.
On mileage they were paid 34 cents a kilometer, often travelling 600 to 800 kilometers a week to meet clients.
PSWs assist clients in a variety of tasks, including personal care, changing of clothing and dressings, and moving clients from beds to wheelchairs.
Red Cross spokesperson Tanya Elliott declined to comment directly on the details of the three-year deal.
“We’re pleased a resolution has been reached,” she said.
The sides met on Jan. 3 in Toronto with arbitrator William Kaplan who ruled workers will receive a 1.4 per cent wage increase in each year of the contract.
Workers will also receive a lump sum payment effective to April 1 last year after the expiry of the previous contract and up until March 31 this year.
Mileage will also rise from the current rate of 34 cents to 37 cents when the contract expires.
Kaplan has also asked the Red Cross to make the union aware of any additional funding it receives to support PSW work.
