London Health Sciences Centre backs OPSEU plan

TORONTO - The influential London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) supports the Ontario Public Service Employees Union’s plan for unrestricted central bargaining.

“This shows hospitals share our concerns about staff shortages,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman.

LHSC vice-president Brian Orr said in a letter to OPSEU today that his hospital has advised the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) that “a single unrestricted arbitration at all 40 OPSEU bargaining units would be acceptable from our perspective.”

On Monday Feb. 10, OPSEU offered to cancel the Hospital Emergency Day of Action if the OHA agreed to this plan. Casselman said the union is still waiting to hear back from the OHA.

“Our plan would provide a co-operative solution in the current round of bargaining and would help communities attract and retain their hospital professionals in the future,” she said. “We are pleased that one of the largest hospitals in central bargaining also recognizes how much sense this offer makes for the hospitals, the patients and our members.”

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For further information:

David Cox: 416-443-8888 (ext 314) or cell 416-788-9197 or dcox@opseu.org  
Randy Robinson: 416-448-7441 or cell 416-788-9134 or rrobinson@opseu.org
Katie FitzRandolph: 416-448-7440 or cell 416-788-9057 or kfitzrandolph@opseu.org