THUNDER BAY - A tentative deal has been reached that will keep developmental services workers off the picket lines.
The agreement came Tuesday after more than nine hours of conciliated talks between the two sides at the Valhalla Inn, a little more than 24 hours before 325 Community Living Thunder Bay staff members were prepared to go on strike.
The primary point of contention for Local 740 of the Ontario Public Sector Employees Union was to keep seniority based promotion hiring as part of their collective bargaining agreement.
OPSEU Local 740 president Erin Rice did not provide many details about the agreement, except to say an amended version of the seniority based hiring practice is included.
The employees had been without a collective bargaining agreement since March 2014.
The tentative deal still needs to be ratified by both sides. The union members are scheduled to vote on it next Monday.
