Glen Christie

The union filed a policy grievance alleging that the employer was obligated under the collective agreement to pay the newly introduced Ontario Health Premium on behalf of bargaining unit members.

The union argued that the collective agreement's promise to provide OHIP coverage 'at no premium cost' required the employer to cover the new levy.

The arbitrator dismissed the grievance, finding that while the Ontario Health Premium is materially similar to the former OHIP premium, the specific language of the collective agreement, which was amended following the introduction of the Employer Health Tax Act, limited the employer's payment obligation to the Employer Health Tax.

The applicant union sought production of documents from the responding parties in an application under section 69 of the Labour Relations Act.

Following a telephone conference, the Board issued directions requiring the Community Care Access Centre and the service providers to produce various internal documents, written instructions, standard forms, and schedules to service agreements, subject to certain confidentiality conditions.

The Board also set out the preliminary matters to be dealt with at the upcoming hearing.

The employer appealed a decision of an employment standards officer.

On the scheduled hearing date, the responding employee did not appear, as the Board was advised she was in the hospital.

The Board adjourned the matter to a later date.