The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is
threatening more cuts to hospitals and creating a chill in
labour relations in the wake of a recent arbitration decision,
says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.
“The OHA had an opportunity to negotiate a deal
with our hospital professionals, but instead chose to go to
arbitration,” says OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. “Now
they are threatening layoffs in the midst of an H1N1 crisis and
are calling for changes to the orderly process defined by the
Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA).”
The professionals in these bargaining units are
critical to the government’s wait times strategy.
The OHA’s threats were issued upon the release
of a unanimous arbitration award that gave a 2.5 per cent per
year increases to hospital professionals such as lab
technologists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, respiratory
therapists and MRI Technologists. The award follows recent 3 and
4 per cent settlements with other professionals such as nurses
and doctors.
“Many of these professionals are facing acute
shortages,” says Thomas. “The OHA talks about retention and
recruitment, but then turns around and says these professionals aren’t valued
like doctors and nurses. It’s insulting and counter productive.”
OPSEU maintains HLDAA is a fair process, one
that the OHA has been happy with for years.
“HLDAA has maintained labour peace for years,”
says Thomas. “Does OHA CEO Tom Closson really want to throw
labour relations into chaos at this critical time?”
Print this page