HPD Central  Bargaining Timelines

Central Bargaining Bulletin

Central Bargaining Update

September 3, 2003  Central bargaining - More details on the Bendel Award

The Bendel Award was released Friday, Aug. 29. While we did not achieve all of the gains that we wanted, this is a major step forward in recognition for our professions. We mobilized, we told our stories to the public, and we presented a brief that was factual, strong, detailed and persuasive. Our efforts paid off in the best central agreement yet.

The full award and the unofficial wage grids are available below. Here are the highlights:

Compounded Wage Increase of 14 per cent over two years for Registered Technologists and those above RT. This means that Registered Technologists are closer to the RN maximum than we have been in more than 13 years. Furthermore, the first five steps of the grid are higher than the corresponding steps of the RN grid.

Compounded Wage Increase of 7 per cent over two years for Technicians. This is better than their counterparts in other hospitals.

An additional 3 per cent to the maximum rate for Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Pharmacists, Perfusionists, Ultrasound Technologists, MRI Technologists and RRCPs effective Apr. 1, 2003.

Technicians have increased vacation entitlement that will now equal the vacation entitlement of the rest of the bargaining unit members.

Members in receipt of a layoff notice will be entitled to receive the same training provided to a new employee in order to exercise their displacement rights.

Increases to shift and weekend premiums ($1.10/hour for evening shifts; $1.35/hour for night shifts and $1.45/hour for weekend shifts).

Improvement in the credit for experience language (one year for every year of experience, with no maximum entry level and current employees will be paid at the step to which they would have been entitled if this provision had been in effect when they were hired).

The right for early retirees to continue in the group benefit plans.

Details about implementation of the award will be provided shortly. In the meantime, negotiations for any outstanding local provisions are ongoing and planning for the next round of bargaining has already begun.

The collective agreements expire Mar. 31, 2004. Watch for information about a pre-bargaining conference that will be held before the end of the year. We have come a long way, but there will be more hard work next round to achieve what we need.

The full award (.pdf)

Final central wage rates (.pdf)

 
March 13, 2003 Belleville Intelligencer QHC won’t take disciplinary action against protesting hospital workers Collingwood Enterprise Bulletin G&M suspends five for illegal strike action
Daily News Archive Click here to view all news items.

March 7, 2003 HPD Action. Issue 17. Team frustrated as third attempt at mediation fails. Arbitration to begin March 21.
HPD Action Archive Click here to view all issues of HPD Action.

February 20, 2002 Solidarity Letter from CUPE Local 79. .pdf
February 20, 2002 Letter of Congratulations from Peter Kormos, MPP .pdf
February 18, 2003 Victory for Hospital Workers. Ontario NDP News Release.
February 14, 2003 Video Clips from February 13 Day of Action
February 13, 2003 Press Release Ball is in OHA’s court: OPSEU
February 13, 2003  Photo Gallery:  Toronto Day of Action, Noon Rally at Mt. Sinai; South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, Bracebridge; Thunder Bay Regional Hospital and Timmins and District Hospital.
February 13, 2003  Ontario NDP Caucus brings a letter of greeting and solidarity to HPD picket lines across the province.  .pdf
February 13, 2003 News Advisory Key supporters join Casselman for Hospital Emergency Day of Action
February 13, 2003 Press Release Hospital professionals launch Hospital Emergency Day of Action
February 12, 2003 Solidarity message from OCHU/CUPE
February 12, 2003 Press Release Two more hospitals back OPSEU arbitration plan
February 12, 2003 A message to the OHA and the public projected two stories high on Mt. Sinai hospital (pictures). 
February 12, 2003 Leah Casselman on Studio Two Tonight 8:00 p.m.
February 12, 2003 Leah Casselman Press Conference
February 12, 2003 Press Release London Health Sciences Centre supports OPSEU’s plan for unrestricted central bargaining.
February 11, 2003 Press Release OLRB ruling won’t reduce hospital staff shortages, doesn’t create a workable process: OPSEU
February 11, 2003 HPD Action. Issue 10. Labour Board rules Day of Action would be illegal strike. Big banner makes waves.  Click here to view pictures of banner.
February 11, 2003  5 p.m.: You got their attention! Here it is folks, today's order of the Ontario Labour Relations Board on the OHA's application
February 11, 2003 Letter to Leah Casselman from Wayne Samuelson,
President, Ontario Federation Of Labour
February 10, 2003 OPSEU HPD Action at Ontario Hospital Association "Building collaborative relationships between labour and management" seminar (with pictures)
February 10, 2003 Press Release  Agree to single unrestricted arbitration and we’ll cancel Day of Action, OPSEU tells OHA.
February 10, 2003  Remarks by Leah Casselman at a news conference on central arbitration for hospital professionals.
February 10, 2003 Bargaining Backgrounder  Why central arbitration mattters.
February 6, 2003  Daily Media Coverage. Oshawa Whitby This Week, St Catherines The Standard, Guelph, Lindsay Daily Post.
Daily News Archive Click here to view all news items.
February 5, 2003 OPSEU radio ads available on line.  Click here to listen.
January 31, 2003 Letter to OPSEU-HPD members not involved in central bargaining on the February 13 Day of Action. The central agreement affects you too! .PDF
January 30, 2003 CUPE Local 79 (City of Toronto) urges support for Hospital Professionals
January 30, 2003 Join us on February 13. A new poster inviting all members of OPSEU and others to join us on the Day of Action. Fill in the details of your local event. .pdf
January 29, 2003  Questions and Answers for OPSEU members about the February 13 Day of Action
January 29, 2003 Section 50 of the Employment Standards Act
January 29 2003 Press Release OPSEU sets first Hospital Emergency Day of Action for February 13
January 29, 2003 Letter to all Hospital Professionals in central bargaining from Aimee Axler, bargaining team chair. .pdf
January 29, 2003 Read Leah Casselman's speech
January 29, 2003: Media Backgrounder on today's announcement
January 29, 2003 Highlights of the Viewpoints survey of hospital professionals -- download this leaflet for use in your workplace .pdf
January 28, 2003 Notice of News Conference OPSEU will announce the next phase of escalating action in the hospital professionals division, Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 10:30.
January 27, 2003 Press Release Staff shortages put hospital care in jeopardy
January 27, 2003 ViewPoints. OPSEU surveyed more than 600 hospital professionals and found that 78 per cent believe staff shortages are hurting patient care. .pdf

Daily Media Coverage
Click here to view today's media coverage

For additional information, notices, flyers and publications, click here

January 17, 2003 "We need your support" flyer, for distribution to labour councils, health coalitions and other allies. .pdf

January 11, 2003 HPD Presidents and leadership from units that bargain centrally (along with several Presidents from other HPD units) met in an emergency session in Toronto and agreed on a plan for escalating action. For further information contact your local president.

Gift to the OHA
On December 19, 2002 Aimee Axler, Chair of Central Bargaining, Hospital Professionals Division, delivered a Christmas present to the OHA: more than 1,200 signatures on a petition, wrapped up with a red ribbon. In two days, one-quarter of the HPD members who bargain centrally signed. Click here to view the petition wording.

Rallies a resounding success
Click here for up to the minute reports and photos from the December 12 rallies across the province

Daily Media Coverage
December 12, 2002 Media summary - Hospital staff rallies for wage hikes: Poor wages affecting hospital recruitment efforts, they say.

December 12, 2002 Toronto Star: Shortages looming for key medical technologists

December 11, 2002 What do our 12,000 hospital professionals do for you? A new flyer explaining many of our "invisible" professions to the public.  .pdf

December 6, 2002 Another Red Wednesday in Thunder Bay.

December 5, 2002 Members of Local 106 in London prepare signs and hold an information picket at St. Joseph's campus.

December 4, 2002 Members of Local 715, Thunder Bay Regional Hospital, wear red and enjoy coffee

December 2, 2002 "We're essential to your good health" - a leaflet for public distribution. Download the .pdf, print on both sides of the page, and fold twice. (The front panel is the list of professions). .pdf

November 29, 2002 Join the OPSEU - HPD province-wide solidarity lunch break. Wednesday December 4, 12:00 noon.  .pdf.

Members of Local 444, Kingston General Hospital. Red Wednesday and Province wide coffee break.

November 28, 2002 Local 106 members at London Health Sciences take a solidarity coffee break at 9:30 a.m. along with OPSEU HPD members across Ontario.

November 28, 2002 Microbiology was ready for Red Wednesday at Local 106, London Health Sciences.

November 27, 2002 Flyer for public distribution. HPD Locals can download and print this flyer for distribution at public events. .pdf

November 27, 2002: Did a London broadcaster really call OPSEU HPD members "Greedy background workers?"

November 26, 2002 Central mobilizing hotline! Our mobilizing hotline is up and running. Please distribute and post this information sheet. .pdf

 

November 26, 2002 Province-wide coffee break! Take your coffee break at 9:30, Thurs. Nov. 28. Find out coffee is good for your health - and might also help you get a better contract. Please let everyone know!  .pdf

 

November 26, 2002  Fax your CEO. Here's a sample letter you can fax to your CEO. Tell your hospital administration to give the OHA clear direction on maintaining central standards.  .pdf

November 26, 2002 Members of Local 444 Kingston General Hospital celebrated the 91 per cent vote to do "Whatever it takes!"

November 26, 2002 Kincardine "Seeing Red" event Nov 20. Members of Local 275, South Bruce Grey Health Centre, dyed their hair red Nov. 20.

November 21, 2002  Peter Kormos, MPP asked a question to Labour Minister Brad Clark about Hospital Professionals central bargaining.

Labour Board Update from HPD Central Bargaining Team
November 21, 2002  Labour Board offers to mediate central agreement:  OPSEU agrees; we await OHA's response.

Red Day in Stratford
November 20, 2002 Members of Local 141 were seeing red on Wednesday as the 91 per cent "Whatever it takes!" vote result was announced.

Press Release
November 20, 2002 Hospital professionals across Ontario have voted for an escalating job action plan almost eight months after the expiry of their contract.

November 20, 2002   Whatever it takes! What's it all about?
Speaking notes and Q and A for members on the 91 per cent "Whatever it takes!" vote.

Bargaining Information

November 13, 2002 Wear your buttons! Click here to view the new HPD buttons, available now from OPSEU Campaigns. (.pdf)

November 8, 2002 Button Guidelines The OHA and some employers may ask you to remove your "Strike Back!" button at the workplace. Click here to find out what you can do about this.

November 1, 2002

Aimee Axler, Chair of OPSEU-HPD central bargaining team responds to the OHA: "Patient care is already at risk . . . we will support our members in whatever action they decide to take."

Letter from Marion Walsh, Chairperson of the OHA negotiating team. (.pdf)

OPSEU responds to OHA's attempt to intimidate members

October 25, 2002 Letter from Shelagh Quigley, OHA, to OPSEU regarding OPSEU-HPD's upcoming vote. .pdf
October 25, 2002 OPSEU's response to the OHA letter.
October 25, 2002 OPSEU pledges full support for Hospital Professionals central bargaining

October 23, 2002 Read President Leah Casselman's response to Lori Findleton, vice-president of the Ontario Hospital Association, regarding the meeting that never happened.

October 21, 2002 Vote notice: Members in hospitals in central bargaining will be asked for their commitment to do whatever it takes to help the central team get a great contract NOW. Voting will be held Oct. 28 - Nov. 14. Contact your local president or steward for further information. Download this poster in .pdf format.

August 1, 2002 Letter to the editor: Pat Collyer of Local 575 on private MRI and CT scan clinics.

July 8, 2002 Put new MRI, CT scan machines in public hospitals not private clinics, says OPSEU -

June 19, 2002  Private clinics will mean profits, not better health care, says OPSEU

"Essential to your health" stickers available for hospital professionals. View them in .pdf format. For professions not listed, you can order blank stickers and fill in your profession. Also available in French. Order your stickers from blinds@opseu.org now
Send Tony Clement, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, this message: For Professionals:   Microsoft word doc.    Adobe Acrobat file. For Health Care Consumers:   Microsoft word doc.    Adobe Acrobat file. (to save these word documents to your computer, right click on the above links and choose "save target as") MPP Shelley Martel responds to members of the Hospital Professionals Division
June 5, 2002 NDP Health Critic Shelley Martel raised the OPSEU HPD negotiations in a statement in the Legislature. June 4, 2002 OPSEU President Leah Casselman wrote to Dr. Elliot Halparin, President of the Ontario Medical Association, regarding the importance of a competitive contract for our members.
May 29, 2002 About 60 Hospital Professionals Division members from Mt. Sinai and University Health Network rallied at noonhour at the central bargaining centre in Toronto. Click here to see the photos. May 22, 2002 Members of Local 570 demonstrate at Mt. Sinai Hospital, carrying signs about lack of parity with other GTA hospitals and about the 17 new members of the $100,000 Club at Mt. Sinai. (picture right) May 24, 2002 Hospital laboratory staff play an important role in fighting food-borne illnesses. Click here to read a letter from the laboratory technologists and technicians at Mt. Sinai.
May 15, 2002 Here's a fine article, reprinted from The Whig Standard - Kingston. Forgotten health care workers - A medical laboratory technologist talks about her profession. May 2002 Our members write to the Editor: Susan Wallace of Lindsay (Local 309) on the Star's recent article focusing on nursing and ignoring the critical shortage of other health professionals. Pat Collyer of Scarborough (Local 575) on the need to fund staffing requirements as well as bricks and mortar projects for hospitals. Members are encouraged to contribute to the letters pages in their local newspaper. May 6, 2002 Letter from President Leah Casselman to Minister of Health Tony Clement: President Casselman wrote to the Minister asking for a meeting regarding central bargaining issues for the Hospital Professionals Division, and on the need for improved funding to hospitals targeted to properly compensate staff.
OPSEU members made a long and colourful march down University Avenue and west on Front Street to the Ontario Hospital Association at noon April 5, in support of the HPD central bargaining team. Members of the division were joined by others from the OPSEU convention including the OPS, CAAT and other sectors of the BPS. The rally was led by OPSEU President Leah Casselman, the division executive.  Click here to view photos

Bargaining began March 25. The team launched bargaining with a press conference to tell the public about our demands for better wages and working conditions, and about shortages in our sector. (See the March 22 Press Release)

Stickers are now available with "We are the backbone of your recovery" and "Without us, your doctor is only guessing". Click here to view. Please call OPSEU campaigns if you would like to order these stickers.

As well, we have HPD "Public, Professional and Proud" golf shirts available. Please order through OPSEU campaigns.

We also have written materials for you to use and adapt. Download and print the sample letter to your MPP, sign and mail it. As well, print the sample letter to the editor, which you can sign and send to your local community or daily newspaper. There's also an op-ed article, which local presidents can adapt to their situation and send in to their local paper as their own.

Sample Letter to MPP  (microsoft word .doc)
Sample Letter to Editor (microsoft word .doc)
Op-ed article (microsoft word .doc)

To download these documents, simple right click on the above links, and choose "save target as".  Save to your local computer.

>> Press Release March 22, 2002 Bargaining will begin Monday as OPSEU hospital professionals negotiate a new central agreement with the OHA and try to address terrible working conditions leading to serious shortages in the health science professions.

It takes a team to rebuild your life: OPSEU Hospital Professionals support Heart and Stroke Month

>> Watch for this advertisement in your local newpaper.  Ads will appear in Jan. 25 or 26 in many daily newspapers, and the following week in many community weekly papers where OPSEU hospital professionals work. Download and print this ad and distribute it as a flier at rallies, and post. For details of where and when this ad will appear contact David Cox in Communications dcox@opseu.org
>> Your Bargaining Team

>> Preparing for the next round of central bargaining  April 2001 Memo to HPD Local Presidents
>> Central Salary Rates
>> Central Collective Agreement (note: this file is in .pdf format.  You will require Acrobat Reader.  If you do not have this free reader, please click here).
>> Central Bargaining Process  How it works