Monday, March 7, 2022 United Mennonite Home Employees Receive Disappointing Arbitration Award Locals Local 302 Ratifications Sectors Healthcare Vineland, ON—Employees of United Mennonite Home for the Aged in Vineland finally have a new collective agreement following a recent arbitration award. The employees are represented by Niagara Healthcare and Service Workers Union, CLAC Local 302. The union has represented them since 1978. The previous contract had expired July 31, 2020. When the two sides failed to reach a negotiated settlement, the dispute went to arbitration. Under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, hospitals and nursing homes are required to resolve collective agreement disputes by compulsory arbitration. Due to the Ontario government’s Bill 124, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019, wage increases awarded by the arbitrator were limited to one percent annually over the three-year term. Annual increases were also made to weekend premiums and part-time in-lieu amounts. “We’re very frustrated and disappointed with this award due to the limitations imposed by Bill 124,” says Isobel Farrell, regional director of the union’s Grimsby Member Centre. “The one percent wage increases effectively reduce our members’ standard of living due to the high rate of inflation. The government needs to take action immediately to fix our broken healthcare system, starting by improving wages for healthcare workers.” You might be interested in Skill and Care on the Milk Route 17 Sep 2026 Building Skills, Growing Careers 15 Sep 2026 CLAC's Statement on Canada's Energy Future 14 Sep 2026 Seeing Clearly 13 Sep 2026