Health workers to walk out
The day of protest involves diagnostic, therapeutic and rehab workers.
By PETER GEIGEN-MILLER, Free Press Reporter
London professional hospital workers will join in a province-wide day of action Feb. 13 to press demands for improved wages and working conditions.
Centralized bargaining between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Ontario Hospital Association broke down in December and no new talks are in the offing.
The 5,000 hospital professionals represented by OPSEU in Ontario provide diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitation and other services at 40 hospitals.
Several hundred OPSEU members in London met Monday night and gave overwhelming support to the day of action, said Bob Reid, president of Local 106.
The local represents more than 600 health-care workers at the three campuses of the London Health Sciences Centre, St. Joseph's Health Care and Alexandra hospital in Ingersoll.
Reid said the union plans rallies and day-long picketing in London Feb. 13.
"We are telling hospitals and the OHA that it will not be business as usual on this day and we're prepared to withdraw service," said Reid.
"We are prepared to maintain the same staffing levels that day as would be required for a statutory holiday."
Patients will not be put at risk by the protest, he pledged.
"This is not a fight against the patients and the public we serve and we will not put their health at risk."
Reid said improved wages and working conditions are needed to reverse critical staff shortages that threaten the quality of health care.
"We cannot attract or retain enough professionals that are crucial to our health-care system," he said.
