Difficult negotiations

Negotiations between the Centre de santé et services sociaux (CSSS) de Laval and the Syndicats des infirmières, inhalathérapeustes et infirmières auxiliaries (SIIIAL) (Union of Nurses, Inhalation Therapists and Auxiliary Nurses) were proceeding at such a snail's pace that the union was provoked into demanding an arbitrator to settle the issues.

The SIIIAL after its general assembly asked the Ministry of Labour to appoint an arbitrator in its negotiations with the CSSS. By mutual agreement, the final date for an agreement had been set at July 8, 2007.

"We deposited our demands on June 13, 2006 but it wasn't until September 13 that we had our first meeting," union president Jean-François Caron deplores. "We're concerned about these lagging discussions. The employer group is negotiating in bad faith. We don't think the collective bargaining agreement can be finalized by July 8. That's why we've made the demand (for an arbitrator)."

The employer says it had suggested a less extreme measure, that of the intervention of a mediator whose recommendations are not binding on either party contrary to those of an arbitrator whose decisions are binding, under labour law.

"We're the ones who made the suggestion, at the March 27 meeting," states CSSS spokesperson Mathieu Vachon. "There are some contentious issues to resolve but up to this point we think we have respected the time frames for resolving them. If they think that we're not open to resolving the issues, it's just their view of the situation. With three months still left to conclude an agreement, the (union's) demand (for an arbitrator) comes as a big surprise to us."