June 28, 2023
Greetings Sisters, Brothers, and Colleagues,
The Employees of Stonebridge Crossing Retirement Community (a division of Extendicare) were certified as a bargaining unit on the 3rd of August 2021. Notice to bargain was served on the Employer on the 6th of August 2021. A unit meeting to elect an interim unit executive was held on the 17th of September 2021.
The Union had been working to prepare bargaining proposals and agree on dates to meet with the Employer when the Employer changed. As of February 10, 2022, Extendicare Canada announced it was selling its Esprit Lifestyle division to Sienna-Sabra LP, a partnership between the US company SABRA Healthcare REIT and the Canadian company Sienna Senior Living. Sienna will operate and manage the Esprit facilities. This now includes the four facilities represented by SEIU-West at West Park Crossing, Riverbend Crossing, Stonebridge Crossing and Hunter Village.
The Bargaining Committees from the four SEIU-West represented properties of Hunter Village, Stonebridge Crossing, Riverbend Crossing, and West Park Crossing attended a joint meeting to discuss the possibility of bargaining collectively, at a common table, with the new owners. The new owners indicated they had no desire to bargain at a common table, and instead would conclude negotiations with Riverbend Crossing and West Park Crossing, prior to moving into collective bargaining with Stonebridge Crossing.
The bargaining committee met on May 24, 2022, to discuss proposals, and the collective bargaining process. We finalized our opening non-monetary proposals on June 19, 2023, and commenced bargaining with the Employer on June 21st, through a “TEAMS” electronic meeting platform, with Dea Mantel (Negotiations Lead), and Tracey Armstrong (General Manager).
Additional dates to continue bargaining have been put forward for the week of September 18, 2023.
On behalf of the Committee, if you have questions about bargaining and/or your collective agreement contact the Member Resource Centre (MRC) by phone at 1-888-999-7348 ext 2298, by email at [email protected], or by using the contact form on our website.
Your participation in your Union makes us all strong!
In Solidarity,
The SEIU-West Stonebridge Crossing Bargaining Committee
Christine Derkach (Unit Chair) • Nathalie Ahotoh (Unit Vice-Chair) • Ivy Krueger (Communicator) Staff: Tracy Goodheart (Union Representative) • Larry Buchinski (Southern Negotiations Officer) • Bob Laurie (Director, Contract Bargaining & Enforcement)
Click here for a printable copy of this Bargaining Bulletin.