Month: March 2020

COVID-19 Update – March 26, 2020

As many of you are aware there are daily changes happening across all sites within Unity Health Toronto. 

The most recent update is on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) that was passed yesterday.

This CERB is back-dated to March 15, 2020 and lasts for 4 months. 

Details about how to apply and what proof will be needed for childcare claims is still to come. However, this is great information on provincial benefits for those who are accessing income replacement, especially if you are part-time/casual.

Please click this link for more information on the CERB and how to apply: https://cupe.ca/canada-emergency-response-benefit-qa

In addition, to this link, we also want to take a moment to comment on the Emergency Provincial Order that was sent on Sunday March 22, 2020. 

This Order allows Unity Health Toronto to redeploy staff where they are needed most during a 14-day period which ends on April 5, 2020. This Order may be extended for an additional 14-days by the Provincial Government. 

If you have any questions around this Order please contact your site representatives on the Executive. 

If you are directly affected by a redeployment it is important that you let us know immediately. 

A redeployment is one or more of the following:

1) Reduction in hours (example: per day, per week)

2) Change of shifts (example: from days to evenings)

3) Change of work site (example: working at SMH instead of SJHC, or working from Home)

4) Lay off (example: asked to stay home because you are not needed, there is no work for you)

5) Performing duties outside of your normal job duties (example: Housekeeping doing Clerical duties)

6) Reduction in wages (example: paid a lower rate of pay for doing duties outside of your normal job)

Also – if you are aware of any non-union/contract employees performing duties that are normally performed by union members only please contact us.

These are challenging times, if you require any further information or have other  work-related questions that we can assist you with please do not hesitate to contact an Executive representative at your site. Our contact information can be found at 5441.cupe.ca/contact-us 

We encourage all to stay safe and vigilant as we work through this difficult time together.

Working together for you always,

CUPE Local 5441 Executive Board

** MEMO FROM OCHU PRESIDENT AND HEALTHCARE COORDINATOR**

March 18, 2020

To:  Hospital and affiliated long-term care locals and assigned staff

Re:  COVID-19

From: Michael Hurley and Dan Pike

As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, you face some very significant collective agreement and health and safety issues.  We will do our best to support you through these challenges. Here are our recommendations to you on a number of burning issues.

LAYOFFS AND REASSIGNMENTS ARISING FROM CLINIC AND OTHER CLOSURES

It is vitally important to uphold our collective agreement rights, even in a time of crisis. Some employers have been incorrectly moving employees within the hospital as a result of program closures or curtailment, to staff up the opening of assessment centres and for other pandemic treatment measures. Some hospitals have also raised the possibility of “temporary” layoffs. In opening Assessment Centres, we ask that you take the position that the collective agreement provisions must prevail. Assessment Centres should be initially staffed following the language in your collective agreement for job posting and additional shifts and, if necessary, by reassignment. If your hospital claims to need to lay employees off as a result of cancellation of elective surgeries or other program closures or curtailment, it is especially important to ensure the hospital is following the collective agreement. The government has called on the hospital sector to ramp up capacity to handle the expected surge of coronavirus patients, including by scaling back elective surgeries. The government is not expecting hospitals to lay off staff. Please advise us immediately of any proposed layoffs.

In this moment of crisis, reducing the number of trained hospital employees available for work is totally inappropriate and irresponsible. This should be an “all hands on deck” approach, with the employer utilizing their ability to re-assign staff within the parameters of the collective agreement, rather than laying people off. The employer may claim the layoff is “temporary” or “short-term”. A short-term or temporary layoff is one that lasts for less than 13 weeks’ duration. It is very likely that elective surgeries and other programs curtailed under the current crisis will not have resumed within 13 weeks and that any layoffs will actually be long-term. The collective agreement provides significantly more rights in the case of a long-term layoff than in a short-term layoff. If your hospital notifies you of a short-term or temporary layoff, grieve that the layoff was not done in accordance with the collective agreement because the closure will last for more than 13 weeks and proceed with the issue to arbitration. By that time, it will be clear whether the layoff was actually long-term in which case the hospital was obligated to give 5 months’ notice, offer packages prior to giving individual notices of layoff, etc. Article 9.08 of the CUPE central hospital collective agreement allows for the hospital to reassign employees, so long as certain important conditions are met. Reassignments must:  

1. Occur in order of reverse seniority;
2. Be to an appropriate permanent position with regard to the employee’s skills, abilities, qualifications and training;
3. Not result in a reduction in the wage rate or hours of work of the affected employee;
4. Be located at the same or nearby work-site;
5. Have the same or substantially similar shift or shift rotation;
6. Where more than one employee is to be reassigned, employees are entitled to select from the available appropriate vacancies in order of seniority.

If your hospital moves employees unilaterally without following the reassignment language, please grieve and assert the union’s rights.  Employees may be reassigned to assessment centres so long as the above strict conditions are met. If reassigned staff normally work 8-hour shifts, they cannot be reassigned to 12-hour shifts—the remaining 4 hours can be filled by following calling-in language. Should the hospitals feel they need a more permanent scheduling solution, a vote for 12-hour shifts by the new unit members could be arranged. Under no circumstances should staff/locals agree to waive any provision in the collective agreement or enter into separate agreements with the employer (i.e. work-sharing programs).

HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES

Out of harm’s way

Pregnant employees, staff receiving chemotherapy, staff with compromised  Immune systems, staff with rheumatoid illnesses or on steroids/anti-inflammatories should be moved out of direct contact with any potential or confirmed cases of COVID-19.  

Personal Protective Equipment  

CUPE is engaged in discussions with the Ontario government, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA), The Ontario Long Term Care Association, other employers and our sister unions in the healthcare sector around how to protect healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Unfortunately, the position of the government currently is that COVID-19 is not airborne and that only contact/droplet precautions are required, except when performing aerosol-inducing procedures on a patient. This position is being taken because there is a shortage of personal protective equipment.  

A number of respected scientific organizations, like the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Lancet, the Centre for Disease Control, the Centre for Infection Control and Disease Protections, Cal-OSHA and others recommend that COVID-19 should be treated as though it could be airborne. A list of references is attached to this memorandum. Airborne precautions include eye protection and an N-95 (or better) respirator. Our position is that any worker who will come into contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 must be equipped with an N-95 (or better) respirator, face shield or goggles, gloves and gown. This includes screeners, persons doing triage or working in critical care, ICU or the ER in proximity to people who are confirmed cases or may be suffering from COVID-19. We are holding the line provincially for better protections for our members and we ask you to insist on these protections at the workplace level.  

Right to refuse  

Healthcare workers have a limited right to refuse unsafe work. A work refusal would trigger an investigation by the certified worker and employer representative and a request to the Ministry of Labour to investigate. An example of a potential work refusal: a pregnant cleaner asked to clean the room of a COVID19 patient and offered a surgical mask and face shield. Pregnant workers are at much greater risk if they contract COVID-19.  She could insist on being reassigned. This could trigger a work refusal.

 A more detailed outline of your rights to refuse unsafe work is coming.

PAY FOR EMPLOYEES WITH SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED COVID-19  We ask that you take the following position with your employers: All employees, full or part-time (including casual) should be provided with paid sick leave if they exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 or are in isolation or quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. While technically part-time are not covered by sick leave, special measures are needed to encourage them to stay home when ill or suspected of being ill with coronavirus.  No employee should be added to or progressed through any Attendance Management Programs (AMPs) as a result of illness relating to COVID-19, precautionary isolation or quarantine. Normal collective agreement or employer policy requirements that employees provide medical documentation will not apply to employees’ subject to COVID-19 related illness, self-isolation or self-quarantine. Legislation to this effect was announced on March 16. We know that we can count on the experience, dedication and leadership of local activists and staff representatives to hold the line. Please let us know how we can assist. In solidarity,

Michael Hurley                                                          Dan Pike                                       President, OCHU/CUPE                                           Ontario Healthcare Coordinator

***URGENT GMM NOTICE***

Good afternoon Members of CUPE Local 5441.

Please note that we have taken the steps to have our General Membership Meetings streamed virtually in light of the circumstances within our Province. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our GMM this afternoon will be going ahead as planned. It will be from 4pm-6pm at the Bond Hotel, Picadilly Room. If this meeting reaches a total of 50+ people, it will be cancelled.

To connect to the meeting virtually (from home or elsewhere) please click the link below and you will be connected to the meeting:

CUPE 5441 is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: CUPE 5441 – March 18 GMM

Time: Mar 18, 2020 04:00 PM Eastern Time (Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/812917751?pwd=eFpxdGQzRXhra1pXT3k1UDQ1VTZ0Zz09

Meeting ID: 812 917 751

Password: 5441

OR

Dial by either number if you just want to call in




 		+1 647 374 4685
+1 647 558 0588

 Meeting ID: 812 917 751

We would like to apologize for the late notice. As things continue to evolve, please note we will provide further details as we all address the current situation around us.

If you have any anxiety or concerns about these times, please call Employee Assistance Program: 866-606-6367

Thank you,

Your Local Executive

URGENT UPDATE DUE TO COVID-19

For all of us at CUPE Local 5441 our number one priority is the health and safety of our membership. As the situation with the COVID-19 outbreak continues to plague our province, and as recommendations exist encouraging the limiting of large gatherings in an attempt to help stop or slow the spread of infection, the RPN regional mini conference on April 15th, 2020 has been postponed.
Please note an update to our General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 at the Bond Hotel 4pm-6pm.  If we reach a total of 250+members at this meeting we will be cancelling it as per current Government restrictions regarding large gatherings.
As an Executive we will continue to monitor the situation and should there be any changes to the March 18th GMM, we will communicate this as soon as possible.
We want to thank all of you for your continued dedication and hard work in keeping our hospitals safe places to be.  Please continue to make every effort to practice a high standard of hand hygiene and avoid any unnecessary personal contact with others (example: handshaking, hugging). 
For COVID-19 updates please visit the intranet at your Hospital to get the latest information.
NEW: please allow extra time to come to work on Monday March 16th, 2020, active screening is going to start at these 3 locations for all visitors, staff, patients, residents. 
We are working on more updates including a newsletter in the next few days.
Please continue to check our website weekly: 5441.cupe.ca 
 – Your Local 5441 Executive

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Wednesday, March 18, 2020
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Bond Place Hotel, 65 Dundas Street East – Picadilly Room

Agenda includes:

  • Motion to receive the Transfer of Jurisdiction of the Spiritual Care Practitioners (Chaplains) as a Sub-Unit of CUPE Local 5441. Motion attached.
  • Nominations for vacant Steward positions and elections

In order to be nominated you either need to be at the meeting to accept your nomination, or you need to submit your nomination to someone who will be present at the meeting on your behalf. The nomination should be presented in the following format:

I, (Name of person making the nomination), nominate (Name of Candidate) for the position (Title of the Position, Site and Full-time, Part-time or Casual Status) of Local 5441.

Both the nominator and the Candidate must sign and date the document.

You may also submit your nomination in the above format to the Recording-Secretary, Elkin Greig (recordingsecretary@cupe5441.ca),

Candidates may be elected for both positions.

If more than one candidate is nominated for a position, elections will take place on Wednesday, March 18th.  Voting details to follow.

Positions open for nominations:

Stewards:

St. Joseph’s:        1 Clerical    7 Service

St. Michael’s:       1 Clerical   

Providence:         No vacancies

Transfer of Jurisdiction Agreement between Local 5441 Unity Health Toronto & Spiritual Care Practitioners, Unity Health Toronto:

BE IT RESOLVED that upon approval from CUPE National Office, Local 5441 Unity Health Toronto agrees to receive the transfer of jurisdiction of the Spiritual Care Practitioners of Unity Health Toronto according to the terms and conditions outlined herein: a) That upon approval from the Secretary-Treasurer of CUPE National, the new Local Union number would be CUPE Local 5441.02 (or as assigned by CUPE National).
b) That in order for the members of the Spiritual Care Practitioners to have representation on the Local 5441 Executive, in accordance with the Local 5441 Interim Structure Document, a Unit Vice-President of the Spiritual Care Practitioners will be elected as soon as possible upon approval of the transfer of jurisdiction.
c) That once approval has been received from the CUPE National Secretary-Treasurer for the transfer of jurisdiction, Union dues will begin to be deducted at the CUPE Local 5441 rate of 1.7% of regular wages and be remitted to CUPE Local 5441.
d) That the existing rules and practices shall continue for each of the Locals/Unit until a By-Law Committee (as constituted by Local 5441’s Interim Structure Document) has drafted by-laws which are approved by the general membership of the new Local 5441 in accordance with the National Constitution. Such by-laws shall be completed no later than the May 2020 membership meeting.

NOMINEES FOR STEWARDS AND

BARGAINING COMMITTEES

Providence Healthcare

Providence – Cafeteria 7am – 7pm

SERVICE

7 TO BE ELECTED

Farida Amin

Hristina Chorolovski

Wanda France

Jude Lanado

Susan Lindeman

Julie Ann Pacturan

Joel Penaroyo

Dominic Pereira

Pamela Rose

Raquel Russell

Beverly Semple

Lisa Wilson

CLERICAL

Wanda Inwood – Acclaimed

Ellen Wu – Acclaimed

BARGAINING COMMITTEE

SERVICE

3 TO BE ELECTED

Elkin Greig FT

Jude Lanado PT

Dominic Pereira PT

Lisa Ross FT

Lisa Wilson FT

CLERICAL

Wanda Inwood FT – Acclaimed

Suganthini Sellathurai FT – Appointed

St Joseph Healthcare

Sunnyside 2nd Floor Lecture Hall Room 2S-256 7am – 7pm

SERVICE

Sukhdeep Brar – Acclaimed

Marcian Cotter – Acclaimed

Dana Daughma – Acclaimed

Alexia Dinham – Acclaimed

Jenny Myers – Acclaimed

Ann Piper – Acclaimed

Annette Sampson – Acclaimed

Charan Singh – Acclaimed

Luiza Viadoniga-Bojkova – Acclaimed

Darka Oleksij – Acclaimed

Tracey Wright – Acclaimed

CLERICAL

Jacqueline Hutchinson – Acclaimed

Debbie Ramnauth – Acclaimed

Kay Jones – Acclaimed

Rica Best – Acclaimed

Jason Francisco – Acclaimed

BARGAINING COMMITTEE

SERVICE

2 FT TO BE ELECTED

Michael Brito FT

Julian Harney FT

Ann Piper FT

Alexia Dinham  FT

1 PT to be appointed (no nominations)

CLERICAL

Jacqueline Hutchinson FT – Appointed (no nominations)

1 PT to be appointed (no nominations)

St Michaels

Marketeria 7am to 7pm

SERVICE

Chrysostoum Annadas – Acclaimed

Tatiana Bascou – Acclaimed

Rodrigo Bizama – Acclaimed

Aimee Carnell – Acclaimed

Melody Credo – Acclaimed

Latonya Davis – Acclaimed

Daniel Freitas – Acclaimed

Angelica Hernandez – Acclaimed

Stacy Gobin – Acclaimed

Dennis Johnson – Acclaimed

Patrick Kotwa – Acclaimed

Olga Khorunji – Acclaimed

Patrick Lynch – Acclaimed

Hayat Monfaredi – Acclaimed

Paul Porter – Acclaimed

David Salem – Acclaimed

Kostadin Stanojevic – Acclaimed

Marie Stephenson – Acclaimed

CLERICAL

Trisha Bazilewich – Acclaimed

Marta Machado – Acclaimed

Marlon Morris – Acclaimed

Vanessa Nassief – Acclaimed

Carolyn Roberts – Acclaimed

Julinne Tavares – Acclaimed

Jessica Tonin – Acclaimed

Angelo Tucci – Acclaimed

Rahel Woldeselassie – Acclaimed

BARGAINING COMMITTEE

SERVICE

2 FT TO BE ELECTED

Jason Amaral FT

Michael Couto FT

Chris Craveiro FT

Daniel Freitas FT

Hayat Monfaredi FT

Olga Khorounji PT – Acclaimed

CLERICAL

Jessica Tonin  FT – Acclaimed

Rahel Woldeselassie  PT- Acclaimed

Sarah Daniel PT – Appointed (filling 1 PT vacancy on Bargaining team)