OPSEU offers OHA a way out
President Leah Casselman, HPD Division Chair Patty Rout and HPD central bargaining team vice-chair Yves Shank held a press conference today to offer the OHA one last chance to avert Thursday’s Hospital Emergency Day of Action.
Casselman said we would ask our members to stand down if the OHA agrees to a single unrestricted arbitration for all 40 hospitals involved in central bargaining.
“Hospital professionals want the same process the OHA uses in bargaining with the Ontario Nurses Association,” Casselman said.
So far the OHA has not formally responded.
Casselman said a single arbitration with wage comparisons with all other Ontario hospitals would cost taxpayers less, help communities keep and attract hospital professionals, and be fair to all staff.
“Our proposal will keep hospital professionals in every hospital in every community. It simply means equal pay for equal work,” she said.
OPSEU hopes the OHA takes a close look at the union’s position.
“They have two days to come to their senses and resolve this mess,” Casselman said.
“That’s plenty of time to decide that a clean approach to settling our contract is better than being confrontational.”
Hospitals are breaking ranks
Individual hospitals are breaking ranks with the OHA.
Letters and memos show that hospital HR departments would much rather have a contract than a fight, despite the OHA’s stand in bargaining.
Their words make it clear that they don’t agree with the OHA’s bargaining stance.
Some hospitals have written that they have no intention of disiplining members who participate in the Day of Action.
Ask your hospital to get the message to the OHA: Settle this NOW.
Talk to your HR department. Ask them to let the OHA know their preference would be a settlement.
Hearing continues
The Labour Board hearing into OHA charges was scheduled to continue on Tuesday. We will report as soon as we know the outcome.
It’s a labour matter
The College of Medical Laboratory Technologists of Ontario has written its members about the Day of Action.
After consulting legal counsel and other colleges, it concludes that “job action that does not jeopardize urgent or emergency care appears to be more of a labour relations issue than a professional one.”
“The CMLTO position is clear. The College regulates the practice of the profession, not employment relations.”
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