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More than 100 workers with Clear Medical Imaging hit the picket line Friday after negotiations broke off between the company and the union representing its employees.
“Our members have been left with no choice but to strike to demand fair treatment and respect for the critical role they play in providing imaging services to the Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent communities,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne.
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Unifor had set a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Thursday to reach a new deal, but talks had stopped by the early afternoon.
Payne said the union is ready to return to the bargaining table, but the employer must address the core issues impacting their members.
The main issues are wages, benefits, mandatory over time, sick leave, and job security.
“We’ve been at it for four weeks straight trying to get the collective agreement done,” Unifor Local 2458 president Ken Durocher told the Windsor Star. “The company hasn’t moved at all, so we broke off talks yesterday.
“They made it clear to us, there is no more movement on anything. We’ve been waiting to hear back from them.”
The strike is a direct result of the privatization of health care for profit, according to Durocher. He said the employer has failed to prioritize patient care and fair treatment for workers.
“Health care privatization in Ontario continues to create conditions where profits take precedence over people, and workers are left to face the consequences,” Durocher said.
“We’re open to bargaining whenever, because we know this has an effect on the public. There’s a waiting list of 900 people trying to get ultrasounds and x-rays done.”
Clear Medical Imaging has 11 locations across Windsor, Chatham, Tecumseh, LaSalle and Essex.
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