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HPD bargaining continues in May As most members know, the week of Apr. 22 was the last scheduled week for negotiating contract improvements. Unfortunately, due to a death in our negotiator Moya Beall’s family, we were unable to use these dates
for bargaining and have had to schedule new dates. Even this proved to be difficult. It took four days of negotiations to find a number of dates both parties could agree to! We will now be bargaining May 7– May 9, and again May 28 – May 31. We hope that by these dates we will have reached a settlement, or agreed to take the unresolved issues
to the arbitration process.
Critical Point
We have reached the critical point in bargaining. The issues on the table now are some of the most important to our members – compensation issues. These cover a range from wages to vacation, benefits to premium payments and related issues. With bargaining cancelled last week, your team spent a considerable
amount of time researching and working on a response to the Hospitals’ last offer. Clearly the OHA is hiding behind funding cuts. But why aren’t the funding cuts restricting the number of hospital executives in the “$100,000 Club”? Why are those in the “Club” seeing wage increases from 14 to 33 per cent? (see www.gov.on.ca/FIN/english/hospit02.pdf)
Why are hundreds of thousands of dollars flowing into the system for “cutting edge” medical equipment and renovations, but no additional dollars for people to run the equipment or to staff the hospital? That’s why it’s important to take our message to the politicians – from your MPP to the new Premier. You’ll see more on this in a separate
Mobilizing Bulletin. In the meantime, start by writing to Tony Clement, Minister of Health. Your bargaining team is also trying to meet with Mr. Clement to deliver our concerns personally.
Enlist support
Don’t miss an opportunity to speak about our issues. Staff shortages are one of our biggest problems. Shortages because people are leaving the province to work where wages and working conditions are significantly better. Shortages because the financial rewards in our professions aren’t competitive when students
are exploring career opportunities. Shortages because increasing workload has not resulted in increased staffing levels. These shortages threaten the service we can provide to patients. Some of our strongest allies are the doctors who rely on us! Pathologists and radiologists, for example, recognize the contribution we make and agree that we
are underpaid and understaffed. Speak to them. Ask them to write to the Minister of Health, or the OMA, to express their support. Their help could make a difference!
Keep Us Posted
It is vital that you keep us posted on any bargaining related activities in your local. Forward job postings for vacant positions, or any statistical information about increasing workload without an increase in staff. Forward information about sick leave that is not backfilled, or overtime worked, due to staff
and/or funding shortages. Copy us on any letters that are sent to support bargaining. Keep us informed about any information pickets, rallies, fundraisers or any other local activities around bargaining. We need this information at the bargaining table!
Thank you for your strong mobilizing efforts to date. You’ve been great. Keep it up!
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 |
