Bargaining Begins at CBI Home Health

Your bargaining committee began negotiations with CBI on June 29, July 21 and July 22.

Our proposals to improve the collective agreement focused mostly on improving the ways that hours are scheduled, to allow for more regular hours and income for our members.

Currently, all CBI HCAs and LPNs are considered “casual” employees, even though many of us have been working with this employer for years caring for regular clients. This lack of regular employment status means that our hours can be changed with very little notice. Some members report that they are working more hours than they can handle, while others have been trying without success to get enough hours to provide for a stable income.

Throughout the bargaining process, we will be working to find solutions to these problems and greater protections for us as workers who play a vital role in delivering health care in patients’ homes. We have also proposed a number of monetary improvements, such as salary increases, as well as greater compensation for travel time, vacation, sick time and other areas.

CBI did not propose many changes to the collective agreement, and they did not put forward a monetary proposal, meaning they have not yet told us what kinds of increases to wages, benefits and other cost items they would be willing to make.

CBI also informed us that they are planning some changes to their operations which will impact members and the negotiation for a new contract. The details of these changes will be the focus of our next bargaining dates, and we will be able to communicate more information after that time.

Our next bargaining date is scheduled for September 9 and 10, with future dates booked further into the fall.

We’re doing this together

In order to win a fair collective agreement that meets your needs as workers, your bargaining committee needs your support. It takes all of us to win a fair contract.

We will be holding regular monthly meetings online, and we encourage you to attend those meetings. You can learn more about how bargaining is going, and get involved in support of the negotiations committee.

For information about how to join the meetings—or if you have any other questions, comments, or feedback—reach out to the negotiations committee. Their contact information is listed at the bottom of this update.

Together, we’re going to improve working conditions at CBI, and the care that we’re able to provide to patients. We’re dedicated to providing the best quality care, and in order to do that, we need decent working conditions. We can win those working conditions together.

Your Negotiations Committee
Susan Kyle
sjkyle91064@gmail.com 780-984-8355
Bobbie Narayan
nbobbie62@gmail.com 587-501-2071
Tina Laforce
cruisin4u2@shaw.ca 587-335-2292

Alternates:
Jean Lehune
mjlehune@gmail.com 780-221-4080
Rachel Darkoa
racheldk@hotmail.com 780-893-1774

AUPE Staff Resources
Merryn Edwards, Negotiator : m.edwards@aupe.org
Tracy Noble, Organizer: t.noble@aupe.org
Celia Shea, Communications Officer: c.shea@aupe.org