Protest is spreading
OPSEU professionals at hospitals not in central bargaining, including hospitals in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton and Windsor, plan to join the Day of Action protests Feb. 13.
“Many local presidents across the province say their members will participate,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.
“They know the central contract will ultimately determine their wages and working conditions as well.”
OPSEU has learned many non-participating hospital managements also want a fast resolution to central bargaining.
(See the letter from South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in yesterday’s HPD Action.)
“Neither the staff nor the hospitals want to wait years to find out what the wages for hospital professionals will be,” Casselman said.
“The OHA needs to work with us to find a speedy resolution for all of our 40 hospitals in central bargaining.
“It’s just not right to send six hospitals to arbitration and leave 34 hospitals and their employees hanging in the wind,” she said. “We need a fair contract and a good contract for everyone.”
OHA takes us to labour board; we file counter-charges
The OHA is attempting to quash the Day of Action protest.
It has filed a “cease and desist” application with the Ontario Labour Relations Board to have the protest declared an illegal strike. The application will be heard Monday morning in Toronto.
President Leah Casselman said the application was typical of the OHA’s heavy-handed approach.
“Whatever happens, we are committed to protecting patients. If the OHA wants to stop the Day of Action, it should be at the bargaining table, not at the Labour Board.”
OPSEU is responding with charges that the OHA is intimidating and threatening union members for participating in union activity.
The Labour Board will hear both charges on Monday. OPSEU will be represented by representatives of the bargaining team and by lawyers.
Remember the goal
As mobilizing heats up in hospitals all across the province, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement.
But it is important to remember what it is all about. We need a good central contract for all 40 hospitals in central bargaining.
Equal pay for equal work. It really could not be much simpler. Why can’t the OHA get it?
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