DALSON CHEN, WINDSOR STAR
Published on: May 1, 2017 | Last Updated: May 1, 2017 4:32 PM EDT
A tentative agreement has been reached concerning the 16 nurses who work at the Windsor Assembly Plant.
The Ontario Nurses Association and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reached the deal on April 28 after long hours of negotiation.
A ratification vote will be held on Thursday.
Unifor Local 444 — representing 6,500 workers at the plant — saying it would respect ONA’s picket line.
The plant’s nurses, represented by ONA Local 8, have been without a contract since Dec. 31.
According to ONA, the nurses fill a critical role at the plant, dealing with employee health as well as medical emergencies.
Three of the 16 nurses are full-time, hired between 1987 and 1992.
The nurses earn $30 per hour. Only the full-time ones receive benefits.
Vicki
McKenna, first vice-president of ONA, said a wage increase was one of
the points of discussion in the negotiations, as was securing full-time
status for more members.
“There
are only three that are full-time. The others are all classed as
part-time … However, they work full-time hours,” McKenna said. “That was
an issue for them.”
