The effective date of the designation is May 9th, 2013. Both parties (employer and union) will begin working immediately to negotiate an Essential Services Agreement.
An Essential Services Agreement allows the employer to continue to provide services during a work stoppage, and must include details like which work functions, job classifications and the number of employees that are deemed essential during a work stoppage. No work stoppage, including strike or lockout, can begin until this agreement is in place.
This means that all MGEU members of Local 200 and 400 should continue to go to work according to their schedules.
Questions regarding the Essential Services Act and the pending CBS strike can be directed through the MGEU Resource Centre.
UPDATE: The first meeting to bargain the Essential Services Agreement for Canadian Blood Services will be held at the Conciliation Services office on May 22, 2013.