Hospital professionals launch Hospital Emergency Day of Action

TORONTO - Hospital professionals across Ontario have launched a Hospital Emergency Day of Action to protest staff shortages that put hospital health care at risk.

“OPSEU members at 40 hospitals have called on the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) to work with their union to address severe staff shortages that are putting health care at risk,” said Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “This protest is another step in our campaign to solve this problem and protect Ontario health care.”

The Day of Action involves over 5,000 professionals, represented by OPSEU, who are involved in central bargaining with the OHA.

Shortages of hospital professionals are the result of deteriorating wages and working conditions, the union says.

“It’s getting harder and harder to keep and attract professionals to work in many hospitals because wages have fallen so far behind,” said Casselman. “Professionals are leaving for higher-paying hospitals, the private sector, and the U.S., and fewer young people are choosing to enter these professions. Today’s Day of Action is our way of letting the public, the politicians, and the OHA know that something has to be done now. It really is an emergency.”

OPSEU members launched today’s protest after the OHA snubbed a Feb. 10 settlement offer. The union had offered to cancel the protest if the OHA would agree to a single unrestricted arbitration covering all 40 hospitals. This is the approach used by the OHA in negotiations with the Ontario Nurses Association.

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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