Press Release: Employees at Rehab Express Reject Generous Wage Offer

MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 22, 2018 /CNW/ - OPSEU makes claims that are unethical and unfounded regarding union negotiations at Rehab Express' Closing the Gap Healthcare location in Elgin County.

Rehab Express is disappointed that a very small majority of its OPSEU-represented employees in Elgin County voted down an offer that would have increased their wages by 6.7% over the next two years. Statistics Canada states that health occupations for 2017/18 increased wages by an average of 1.6%.

Like other home and community-based healthcare service providers across Ontario, Closing the Gap hasn't received a rate increase from the government for the past 14 years, making it very difficult to provide wage increases.

The 6.7% offer included a more modest wage increase that could have been provided when the collective agreement expired in March 2017 ? except that OPSEU was only recently able to form a bargaining committee. The remainder of the offer was made possible by an operational review that included the restructuring of a management position.

"We remain ready and willing to continue to negotiate with OPSEU," said Closing the Gap's President, Leighton McDonald. "In the meantime, we are committed to working with the South West Local Health Integration Network to ensure that the needs of our clients continue to be met."

ABOUT CLOSING THE GAP HEALTHCARE

Closing the Gap Healthcare is a fully accredited organization that provides community and clinic-based nursing, support, and rehabilitation services.

With nearly 2,000 staff members, we provide compassionate, high quality care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our range of professional and support services are available to all age groups across Ontario and Nova Scotia, whenever and wherever they are needed ? in homes, schools, workplaces, long-term care homes, hospitals, and clinics.

SOURCE Closing the Gap Healthcare Group