CUPE, Group Health Centre in the Sault agree to tentative contract

Union, Sault health centre reach tentative deal A day before a strike was to begin, Group Health Centre and CUPE Local 894 in Sault Ste. Marie reached a tentative contract Thursday.

A day before a strike was to begin, Group Health Centre and CUPE Local 894 in Sault Ste. Marie reached a tentative contract Thursday.

CUPE has agreed to delay job action pending a ratification vote Monday.

“We are pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement that we can present to our members,” president of CUPE Local 894 Tracy Fabbricino said in a news release Thursday afternoon.

“All we want is to be able to serve our community the best we can. We can’t deliver the continuity of care our community deserves without a stable workforce and a real wage increase.”

If the contract is rejected in Monday's vote, a strike will begin Tuesday.

CUPE Local 894 includes various health-care workers and clerical support teams, such as registered practical nurses, social workers, radiation technologists, sonographers, physiotherapists, and many more.

The union said members were "overworked, burned out and underpaid, (and) it directly affects the kind of care the Group Health Centre can provide to our community."

"With an equitable wage increase, our members will be able to provide the care our community deserves.”