Niagara hospital workers plan 'job action': But local union not sure if support staff will join provincewide walkout Feb. 13
The Standard (St. Catharines - Niagara)
Thu 06 Feb 2003
Page: A1 / Front
Section: News
Byline: Erik White
Source: The Standard

Niagara hospital support workers will take part in a one-day province-wide protest in an attempt to kick-start stalled contract negotiations, but the local president said it will likely not be a walkout.

About 200 members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 215 attended Wednesday night's meeting at the Four Points Sheraton in Thorold, with the vast majority voting to participate in the Feb. 13, Whatever it Takes job action.

"There weren't too many hands that weren't raised," said local president Joanne Guzda.

OPSEU is calling on 5,000 unionized hospital workers to stage a one-day illegal strike in hopes of improving working conditions and salaries for physiotherapists, X-ray technicians and other support staff.

The union represents about 500 Niagara Health System employees, but Guzda said their protest will likely be more of an information picket and will probably be held at St. Catharines General Hospital.

But Guzda wouldn't rule out the possibility of a walkout.

She said the specifics of the protest will be determined over the coming days.

Guzda said she is hoping to meet with the health system's human resources department today to see if they'll "look the other way" on Feb. 13.

"I'm hoping they're on board with us and agree that Niagara needs to compete and needs to attract professionals to service Niagara," she said.

Whatever form the protest takes, Guzda assured the public patient care will not be affected.

She called hospital support workers an "invisible profession" and said the current staffing levels are "laughable" because workers can't be retained with the heavy workload and low wages provided by the province.

OPSEU is looking for a 23 per cent raise over the next two years. Workers earn between $37,000 and $50,000 a year.

When the two sides last got up from the bargaining table in June, the hospitals were offering a nine per cent pay increase.

Guzda said she was surprised by the large turnout and strong support for the job action as most members are new to a unionized workplace.

"They're really green. We're still convincing them it's OK to go for a coffee break or a lunch break," she said.

"But they really do believe they need to do something for the profession and convince the NHS to get back to the bargaining table."

Workers at Hotel Dieu Health Sciences Hospital in St. Catharines are represented by the same OPSEU local, but are not included in the current contract dispute. Hotel Dieu is not part of the NHS.

Edition: Final
Story Type: Business
Length: 416 words

Guelph hospital workers set to walk off job next week
CP Wire
Wed 05 Feb 2003
Section: Quebec-Ontario regional general news

GUELPH (CP) _ Patients booked for elective surgery next Thursday and those with appointments for diagnostic tests such as mammograms or X-rays should call Guelph General Hospital before heading out.

Laboratory, X-ray technologists and other diagnostic staff, members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, are poised to walk off the job Feb. 13 for the day as part of a provincewide gesture.

They are protesting what they see as severe understaffing, low wages, and a bargaining process that has derailed, said Terry Moore, the union's local staff representative.

The union has agreed to keep a skeleton staff working on Feb. 13 to handle any emergency cases.

Upcoming job action aims to recognize medical professionals
The Lindsay Daily Post
Wed 05 Feb 2003
Page: 4
Section: Opinion
Byline: Sue Randell
Source: The Daily Post

I have been a Medical Laboratory Technologist for 22 years. I would like the opportunity to comment on the recently announced job action to be taken by about 5,000 OPSEU paramedical workers on Feb. 13.

First, it needs to be stressed to the public that services on Feb. 13 will be provided to our patients much the same way they are available on a weekend or a holiday. We are a very dedicated group of workers who care about our patients: lab technologists, diagnostic imaging technologists, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, recreational therapists, community counselors and pharmacists. Patient care will not be put at risk.

Traditionally, the OPSEU paramedical workers have not been a militant group. But our frustration with working conditions, lower pay rates, an inability to recruit new staff and stalled contract negotiations have resulted in the members having to make a choice. We were asked to stand up for the future of health care, ensuring the ability to maintain the demand for highly qualified professionals within our departments. There was overwhelming support given to our bargaining team from the membership that we would do whatever it takes to obtain the recognition we believe our professions deserve.

We have been without a contract since last March and our bargaining team has had every excuse and blockade put in front of them. The Ontario Hospital Association has made an offer of nine per cent, which will only be applicable to a small portion of our bargaining unit.

In 1982, we were recognized as essential members of the health care system and were, by arbitration, awarded wage parity to Registered Nurses. Unfortunately, due to wage freezes, 'Rae Days' and various contract settlements, we have fallen behind nurses' wages by 23 per cent. Unknown to most people, our educational requirements are the same as nurses, our colleges require the same competency assessments, we are required to participate in ongoing continuing education in order to remain licensed, we work the same shifts as nurses - evenings, weekends, nights, holidays. We are invaluable to doctors, just as nurses are. In fact, without us, physicians are guessing. No matter how many doctors and nurses there are, without these professionals, hospitals simply cannot function.

I would like to ask graduating high school students and their parents making a decision about a future career, to consider this: given the high costs of post-secondary education and knowing that you would need the same education for nursing or one of the other health science professions, what would you do? Choose a highly regarded profession like nursing, or settle for a different, less recognized health care profession with equal responsibility and stress, but paying 23 per cent lower salary?

The future of health care is at risk if we cannot ensure that our hospitals are staffed with these essential professionals.

Sue Randell

Lindsay