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Hospital Professionals

The Collective Bargaining Process:

A primer for HPD members

This pamphlet as well as the bargaining survey are for Hospital Professionals Division (HPD) members. They are designed to encourage as much member participation as possible in the collective bargaining process. Why? Because your collective agreement, or contract, is the most important thing in your working life.

Why is my contract so important?

What is Central Bargaining? This is when a group of hospitals and corresponding OPSEU locals decide to bargain the provisions in their contracts at one bargaining table instead of at individual tables. The centrally-negotiated provisions (known as the Central Agreement) are automatically inserted into the contract of each bargaining unit that is participating in the central bargaining process.

All hospital professional bargaining units in OPSEU are members of the OPSEU Hospital Professionals Division (HPD). The primary goal of the division is to improve working conditions and to advance the interests of paramedical professionals within hospitals. OPSEU supports central bargaining in this sector. Why? Because the collective strength of a large number of locals bargaining together can achieve more than individual locals or units bargaining on their own.

Even if your local or unit does not participate in Central Bargaining, your contract is directly affected by the Central collective agreement language. This is because the Central language sets what is known as “the industry standard”. This means that all employers that participate in central have to abide by this standard. And if non-participating employers want to achieve something different than this standard, they have to be able to bargain it at the table, or they have to convince an arbitrator why they should deviate from the industry standard.

How do I get what I need in my contract?

Your collective agreement is negotiated by a bargaining team that is elected by you, the members. If you participate in central bargaining, you have two teams, one for local issues that you elect from the members in your bargaining unit and one for central issues that is elected at the central demand setting meeting from delegates in participating bargaining units. Central provisions cover issues common to all contracts, such as the grievance procedure, layoff, wages and benefits. Local issues, such as scheduling, are usually more hospital-specific. If you do not participate in central bargaining, you have one team, elected from your bargaining unit that bargains all of your issues directly with your employer.

Demand Setting

What is Demand Setting? This is a special meeting held by the members to determine what they want in their contract for the next term (their ‘demands’). The results of this meeting give the bargaining team the mandate it needs to bargain on behalf of the members.

The first demand setting meetings occur at the local level. At these meetings, locals decide whether to participate in Central bargaining and also vote on their demands. If they have decided to participate in Central, they vote on two packages of demands - local and Central. The results of all locals’ Central demands are then forwarded to the central demand setting meeting, which is organized by your HPD Executive. This meeting is open to all locals, participating or not. Non-participating locals get a voice, but no vote. Delegates from each participating local then vote on which demands the central team will pursue with the participating hospitals.

It all starts with a

Pre-bargaining conference...

Before central or local demand setting, electing bargaining teams, or negotiating a new contract, we hold a Pre-Bargaining Conference (PBC). Its purpose is to inform all members about the Central bargaining process, to review the last round of bargaining and to explore ways we can continue to improve our contract. The PBC gives members the opportunity to examine in-depth the issues affecting hospital professionals and to develop themes for consideration at local demand setting meetings.

And most importantly . . .

In preparation for this Pre-Bargaining Conference, your HPD Executive would like to hear what you think needs to be added or changed in our contracts. We need participation from all units at the PBC since we are all dealing with hospital employers and we all benefit from shared analysis and shared strategy discussions.

The decisions made at the PBC will affect your next round of bargaining whether you participate in Central Bargaining or not. Your input now will help shape the agenda for this conference.

So, please take the time to fill out the enclosed short survey: it affects you.

There are three ways to return this survey by DECEMBER 12, 2003:

1: By Toll-Free Fax (be sure to fax both front and back page): toll-free: 1-877-561-8692 or in Toronto 416-448-7455

2: Give to your Local President or Steward to return for you.

3: If you prefer to fill out on-line, go to: www.opseu.org/bps/health/hospital/survey.htm

 

Collective Bargaining Index Page

 

 

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