Union representing Clear Medical Imaging workers requests arbitration
Workers have been on strike since Oct. 25
The union representing workers at Clear Medical Imaging says it will now seek arbitration in the hopes of getting a deal after seven weeks on the picket line.
It comes after Unifor, which represents the workers, claimed Friday that the company failed to respond to its latest offer.
"Despite the union's repeated requests for a counteroffer, the employer chose to break off talks," Unifor said in a statement Friday afternoon. "The union will now apply to the labour board for first contract interest arbitration."
Arbitration involves a third party stepping in to make decisions on unresolved issues. Those decisions are final.
About 120 workers at the medical imaging company in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent have been on strike since Oct. 25. Represented by Unifor Local 2458, the workers are seeking their first collective agreement.
The striking workers include X-ray and ultrasound technologists as well as clerical and administrative staff
Unifor says National President Lana Payne visited the picket line on Thursday.
"I can tell you that the striking members remain steadfast in their demand for a fair collective agreement that respects patients and workers," Payne said.
In a statement, Clear Medical Imaging CEO Michael Reinkober said the company was working to determine its next steps.
"Clear Medical Imaging went back to table with the intention of having a discussion about our financial reality and about how we may be able to structure a counteroffer," Reinkober said. "Unfortunately, Unifor was unwilling to engage in that discussion."
Earlier this month, the company requested a final offer vote, effectively putting what they said would be their last offer directly to workers without the bargaining committee. That offer included wage and benefit improvements, they said. The union did not endorse the deal and workers voted and rejected that offer by 96 per cent, and .
Talks have been contentious, with both parties accusing the other of walking away from negotiations.