T. W. Sargeant

Following a Board decision combining two bargaining units, the parties were unable to agree on the wage rates for three service technicians located in northern Ontario.

The union argued that the existing collective agreement's wage rates should automatically apply, while the employer proposed lower regional rates due to market conditions and higher operating costs in the north.

The Board declined to automatically extend the existing collective agreement, emphasizing the importance of collective bargaining.

Acting to complete the negotiation process, the Board directed a 4% wage increase for 1993 and an additional 4% for 1994, finding a middle ground between the parties' positions.

The union applied to combine a newly certified bargaining unit of three service technicians in northern Ontario with an existing bargaining unit of service technicians based in Richmond Hill.

The employer opposed the combination, arguing a lack of community of interest and expressing concern that it would lose the opportunity to negotiate terms for the northern employees, who faced different economic realities.

The Board found that the employees shared a community of interest as they performed identical work and reported to the same manager.

The Board ordered the combination of the bargaining units to facilitate viable and stable collective bargaining and reduce fragmentation.

However, the Board declined to order that the existing collective agreement automatically apply to the northern employees, instead referring the matter back to the parties to negotiate the terms for the newly added employees.