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HPD bargaining at a critical point Your HPD Central Bargaining Team has completed seven days of bargaining: (March 25 – 27; April 9-12). We were encouraged by our progress during the first week when we were dealing with the least contentious issues. During the second
week however, when we moved into more complex issues involving job security and wages, progress slowed.
We have gone to great lengths to explain our proposals to the OHA team. We have worked hard to show the employer what’s wrong with the current language on job security issues and the current wages and wage structure to give them a taste of what its like to walk a mile in our shoes, and to demonstrate how respect
for the work we do is the foundation of our proposals.
Their response gives us concern. Although there seems to be philosophical agreement between the parties about the importance of our contribution to patient care, this view is not seen in the OHA response. Instead, we are hearing about economic restrictions and concern whether the hospitals would ratify a
contract with the changes we are seeking.
In our view, this is NOT the time for hospitals to be crying poor about their limited economic mandate. They know who to talk to about getting more money. If there is money for CEOs and other hospital officials to join the public sector $100,000 club, then there is money for us and for the services we provide!
Your support has been wonderful. Keep it up! Your involvement and support is more essential than ever.
Mobilize, Mobilize, Mobilize
We have one more week scheduled for bargaining. If that week is to achieve what we want, we need to turn up the heat. Keep up the heat in the workplace. And, NOW is the time to send letters to OHA President David MacKinnon, and to Minister Tony Clement. NOW is the time to visit your MPP. Take a delegation from
your local, with their suitcases, to make him/her aware of what the hospitals are risking. NOW is the time to send letters to the editor to make the members in your community aware that it takes more than doctors and nurses to rebuild a life. See our web site: www.hospitalprofessionals.org for sample materials.
Convention High Notes: A huge delegation of about 500 OPSEU members marched to the OHA head office, with banners, flags and our own police escort. The group included members from our own division, and from the Ontario Public Service, Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and members from the Broader Public
Sector. The group also included board members, staff, President Leah Casselman and Sister Ethel LaValley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL). President Casselman addressed the group and Sister LaValley pledged the support of the OFL.
Your bargaining team
Aimee Axler, Chair Local 444 Kingston General Hospital
David Hancock Local 571 Toronto University Health Network
Robby Hersh Local 583 Baycrest Geriatric Care Centre Toronto
James O’Leary Local 106 London Health Sciences Centre
Patty Rout Local 348 Lakeridge Health Corporation Oshawa
Leslie Sanders Local 348 Lakeridge Health Corporation Oshawa
Yves Shank Local 659 Sudbury Regional Hospital
Moya Beall Staff Negotiator
Michèle Dawson Haber Staff Researcher
Copies of this bulletin will be distributed to each steward. Please post and distribute.
Authorized for Distribution:
Leah Casselman, President |
