Union won't recommend last Clear Medical Imaging deal, as company requests vote

Clear Medical Imaging says it's seeking Ontario government approval to hold a final offer vote next week, as a strike at the company stretches for longer than a month. 

Staff at the company's 11 locations across Windsor-Essex and Chatham Kent, including, X-ray and ultrasound technologists as well as clerical and administrative staff, have been on the picket line since late October.

In a statement, CEO Mike Reinkober said the company has met with the bargaining unit representing workers multiple times. 

"Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to reach an agreement with the union's bargaining committee." 

Reinkober said they asked the province on Tuesday for a final offer vote that they say gives employees a chance to vote directly on their latest offer, which includes wage and benefit improvements. If accepted, the company would resume operations "as soon as possible."

The president of Unifor Local 2458 says he was "very disappointed" about the offer vote. 

Ken Durocher says they received a new offer from Clear Imaging Monday, reviewed it on Tuesday and gave notice that they'd counter Wednesday — but before that happened they, too, received the final offer vote notice. He says the move is not commonly done. 

"This is the first time with our local we've seen this done," he said. "Usually we come to an agreement with the employer. 

"It is their first contract … But usually the parties do come to an agreement on a first collective agreement."

From here, Durocher says they'll wait for a date for the vote, and hold a meeting with their membership. He says the union will not be recommending the deal. 

"It wasn't something we would bring back to the membership because it was dividing the membership," he said. "We were looking for a collective agreement that's fair for every member at that workplace, and that proposal did not do that at all."

Reinkober said the company's latest offer included wage and benefit improvements — but in response to that, Durocher said those improvements did not cover every classification. He also noted sick time and paid break issues. 

If the deal is accepted in the offer vote, it becomes the collective agreement. If not, Durocher says the union will want to head back to the bargaining table. 

"We'll do what we ever have to do to get a collective agreement that's fair for all our members at Clear Imaging," he said. 

Workers first hit the picket line Oct. 25. Talks between the company and union broke down in early November, but last week parties said the talks had resumed.