Central Negotiations
The parties have agreed to go back to the table to try to reach a negotiated settlement. We have given dates to the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and are awaiting their response.
We made it clear to the OHA that movement on wages and on the reclassification issues are necessary parts of a negotiated settlement. The OHA’s Executive Report appears to characterize our requirement as pay equity.
Should a negotiated settlement not be possible, we have agreed to a chair for the arbitration board, Stanley Beck. Our nominee is Cam Nelson, their nominee is Roy Filion. We have given dates to the OHA when we are available for arbitration and are awaiting their response.
Local Negotiations
The parties have agreed to extend the date for completion of local issues negotiations to Mar. 11.
Other
On a separate note, OPSEU wrote to the OHA to seek their agreement to establish a joint committee to ensure that pay equity in the centrally participating hospitals is being maintained. The OHA has responded that they want to canvass their members’ views on the issue at a plenary
session Feb. 15.
