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Clear Medical Imaging is turning to the Ontario Ministry of Labour to hold a final offer vote next week, as more than 100 workers remain on strike after over a month without resolution.
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In a statement to the Windsor Star, CEO Mike Reinkober said the company has met with the union representing its employees multiple times in the past five weeks.
“We tried to reach an agreement that would see our valued staff get back to work and the resumption of the important services we provide for the people of Southwestern Ontario,” Reinkober said in the statement.
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“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to reach an agreement with the union’s bargaining committee.”
The company requested a final offer vote from the province on Tuesday, which Reinkober said would allow employees to vote directly on their last offer that includes wage and benefit improvements.
Unifor Local 2458 represents 130 members at Clear Medical Imaging, who work as x-ray and ultrasound technologists as well clerical and administrative staff, across the company’s 11 locations in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
“We are very disappointed,” said Mike Kisch, Local 2458 secretary treasurer. “We were prepared to provide another pass at the employer and this came out of left field for us.
“As far as we’re concerned, this is another attempt to break our union and to divide our membership.”
The union’s bargaining unit and company representatives resumed talks on Nov. 21 after negotiations broke off Nov. 8. Workers first hit the picket line on October 25 to support their contract demands.
Wages, benefits, overtime, and the union’s opposition to the employer’s plan to outsource services continue to be major sticking points in the labour dispute.
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“There’s a lot still outstanding,” Kisch said. “Given the way this negotiation has gone, we’re not surprised the employer would result to this tactic.
“It’s been a very difficult bargain.”
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If the offer is accepted in the vote, it will be ratified as the collective agreement.
“This latest offer that the company is now subjecting our members to a final vote is something we would not have brought back to our membership,” Kisch told the Star.
“We’ve been trying for weeks to get a proper collective agreement but it has been a very challenging round of bargaining with this employer.
“Sooner or later we’re going to have to get a deal.”
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