THUNDER BAY — A majority of workers at the Port Arthur Health Centre have voted to leave the union.
It means Unifor will be decertified as the bargaining representative for approximately 65 members employed as appointment secretaries, medical aides and in medical records.
The vote was close.
Andy Savela, the health care director for Unifor, said "I understand the difference was two votes. We'll talk with our people and look at what happened during the vote and make sure everything done was appropriate."
However, in an interview Thursday, Savela seemed resigned to the outcome.
"The reality is that in short order we'll get notification from the Ontario Labour Relations Board that the union was decertified and we no longer represent the members at the Port Arthur Health Centre," he said.
Savela expressed surprise with the result, noting that just last month, the clinic workers ratified a new collective agreement.
He said it had "some good gains" including a four per cent pay hike over three years and a number of enhancements in other areas.
"It ratified reasonably well, so that's a little bit alarming," Savela added.
Prior to the vote, he had expressed confidence that a majority of the membership would choose to stick with the union.
Despite the outcome, Savela indicated Unifor plans to stay in touch with the workers, saying "we're committed to talk with those that supported us and continue to tell their story and advocate on their behalf to make sure they're treated fairly."
The union has represented the clinic workers for about 11 years.
In April 2018, the members went on strike and were off the job for about four months before a settlement was reached with the doctor-owned clinic.
