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ISSUE 4 , March 2009 

Executive Update

The division executive met on March 3, 2009 in Toronto.

The executive members made it through a heavy agenda and our discussions quickly turned to CBS’ latest announcement concerning clinic operations and services.

The Employer plans to introduce a standardized multi-skilled worker that can do it all! Will this be a case of more for less?

Will our members obtain a non-transferable skill that the employer will refuse to issue a certificate for? As a non-transferable skill, employees will have little-to-no choice over where to work in the future. This is not what we had in mind in terms of addressing the need for retention.

In response to the Employer’s plan for multi-skilled workers there have been several media releases about this announcement issued provincial nursing associations from across Canada. 

OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas wrote to the Newfoundland-Labrador and Ontario nursing associations in letters to their presidents in which he expressed his grave misgivings about the restructuring plans being considered by CBS.

At the same time he warned the nursing associations to avoid casting aspersions on the value of all our brothers and sisters who work with blood and blood products.

Thomas reminded the nurses associations that “though nurses are highly valued workers they are not the only professionals who work in collection and distribution of blood and blood products.” 

Facility Survey

The Provincial Labour Adjusment Committee has issued a communiqué that would have been included in your Mar. 6 pay statement. It addresses the facility survey that will soon be distributed. Please speak with your committee members (Sean Allen, Shirley Johnny and Janet Seymour) about any questions or concerns you might have.

Welcome sisters and brothers!

The division executive would like to welcome brothers and sisters with the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion and we extend our solidarity in your work towards bargaining a first collective agreement!

The sector – as part of the Health Care Divisional Council – met with other health care sector executives on March 4, 2009 with a plenary that addressed topics such as:

• Violence in the Workplace

• Health and Safety, and

• Repetitive Stress Injuries

OHC organizing across Ontario

We know Ontario hospitals are funded well below the real costs associated with inflation, aging and a growing population. That means cuts to beds, staff, and such services and facilities as labs, clinics, neo-natal care, intensive care, respiratory therapy, physiotherapy, and diagnostics. We also have to question how these cuts will affect the capacity of our already overcrowded hospitals to handle a pandemic. 

We need to ensure that our health sectors are strong and that we support them. It matters to us as health workers, as families and as members of our communities 

The Ontario Health Coalition is organizing in our regions.

We need to participate along with the OHC. Log on to www.opseu.org  and follow the links for a listing of upcoming public events.

Odds ‘n Ends

Your Sector will meet again at the 2009 OPSEU Convention in Toronto, Apr. 22-24.

Continue to watch for frequent editions of TO THE POINT

Speak to a committee member if there is anything you would like to be discussed in the next issue of To The Point

 Members of your sector executive are: