To: Aimee Axler, Chair, OPSEU HPD Central Bargaining Team

From: Art Lane, Administrator, Local Services Division

Re: OPSEU pledges full support for Hospital Professionals central bargaining

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Thank you for attending the OPSEU Executive Board meeting yesterday. As a result of the presentation made by yourself and Health Care Sector, Supervisor Catherine Bowman, the Executive Board has directed that the full support of OPSEU be given to you and your team during this difficult round of bargaining.

Specifically, as Administrator responsible for all bargaining in this province, I have been directed by OPSEU President, Leah Casselman to take a Lead Hand approach to the Hospital Professionals Central Bargaining. Both Supervisor Catherine Bowman and Negotiator Moya Beall have now been made aware of these developments. I have outlined to them, and convey to you as team chair that I will be directing that all the staff, resources, and finances of OPSEU be made available to your team and our membership in the Hospital Professionals Division.

I have now had an opportunity to read the October 23, 2002 letter to Negotiator Moya Beall from the Hospital Negotiating team spokesperson Shelagh Quigley.

Please be advised that OPSEU views this letter as an attempt by the OHA to intimidate our local membership. By way of a conference call early next week I will be directing all of our regional office staff representatives to clear their calendars and to make themselves available for immediate response to any actions taken by hospital management. I will also be making legal assistance available in response to any further threats, intimidation etc, taken against our membership. To this end, I will be setting up a direct 1-800 line for the use of our membership.

As for the upcoming votes taking place across the province, please be advised that OPSEU's policy does not distinguish between so-called legal or illegal strikes, nor does OPSEU distinguish between continuous strikes, rotating strikes or lockouts. We remain committed to obtaining the right to strike for all OPSEU members.

OPSEU remains committed to doing "whatever it takes" to assist you and your team in obtaining a fair and decent collective agreement. The most recent position taken by the OHA/Hospitals shows a complete lack of co-operation. They are not attempting to resolve the issues. Obviously they do not understand just how serious and critical this situation is.

In solidarity,

Art Lane

Administrator, Local Services Division

Cc: Leah Casselman, President
OPSEU Executive Board
Catherine Bowman
Moya Beall