FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2002
OPSEU hospital professionals begin negotiations for better wages and working conditions
Bargaining will begin Monday as Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) hospital professionals negotiate a new central agreement with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) and try to address terrible working conditions leading to serious shortages in the health science professions. A news conference to discuss
negotiations will be held:
Date: Monday, March 25, 2002
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Sheraton Centre (Bay and Queen Sts.), Kenora Rm. 2nd Floor
OPSEU President Leah Casselman and the bargaining team will be available to the media.
”Our hospital professionals are exhausted from working impossibly long hours, in difficult circumstances, ” said Casselman. “As a result, people are leaving these professions, and shortages are jeopardizing patient care. Our team will be trying to address these conditions and the problem of staff shortages.”
OPSEU’s bargaining team will also be asking for improved wage rates that reflect the value of the important work done by our members.
“We know our hospital professionals are in demand across Canada and around the world,” said Aimee Axler, chair of the OPSEU bargaining team. “We are looking to negotiate a competitive collective agreement so we can ensure the health and safety of our workers and the public.”
“Members in many hospitals are overworked and face extreme pressure to work extended shifts, overtime or on-call hours, “ Axler said.” This is an extremely important round of bargaining for our members.”
OPSEU’s Hospital Professionals Division represents 10,000 workers who provide diagnostic, rehabilitative and therapeutic services in hospitals across Ontario. They include x-ray and lab technologists, social workers, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and many other professions.
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For more information, contact:
David Cox, OPSEU Communications: 416-443-8888 x 314 or 416-788-9197 (cell)
Aimee Axler, Chair, OPSEU HPD Bargaining Team: 613-329-2051 (cell)
