OPS Bargaining Steps

• Essential Services Agreement expires 190 days before expiry of current Collective Agreement
• Essential Services Bargaining
• Notice to Bargain Issues (Dec 18) (usually 90 days before Dec 31/01 expiry of Collective Agreement
• Bargaining
• Appointment of Conciliator (either party can make an application to appoint a conciliator)
• Meeting with Conciliator
• If no settlement at Conciliation "No Board Report"
• 17 day countdown starts
• Mediation (not required, but usually happens)
• Essential Services Agreement (in place prior to a strike)
• Legal Strike or Lockout (a minimum of 17 days from issuing of No Board Report)
• Bargaining and Ratification Vote
• New Collective Agreement

STRIKE VOTE: Earliest is 30 days before the expiry of the current Collective Agreement. A vote can take place after the expiry of the Collective Agreement, but must take place prior to a strike.