TORONTO – Faculty at the Michener
Institute of Applied Health Sciences are set to strike at 12:01
Friday, October 16, 2009 if no settlement can be reached in
negotiations.
Staff at the Michener Institute,
members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 572, are
demanding that long-standing issues around workload, wages and
benefits be addressed.
Local 572 President Catherine
Brown, a member of the bargaining team, says that the two sides are
very far apart at the table.
“Our main goal is to ensure that
we continue to provide top quality training and education for
hospital professionals in Ontario,” Brown said. “However, our
workload has become unmanageable, and our wages and benefits are far
below those working in the province’s community colleges. This
inequity must be addressed or both the students and staff will
suffer.”
The Michener Institute trains
professional employees who work in hospital laboratories, diagnostic
imaging, critical care and a host of other specialties that are
integral to health services. The Michener Institute is funded by
Ontario’s Ministry of Health.
OPSEU President Warren (Smokey)
Thomas says that this is a good example of where the province should
be investing health care dollars.
“The students of Michener are the
future of quality health care in Ontario,” Thomas said. “eHealth has
shown us that the government knows how to waste money. This is a
perfect opportunity to show the people of Ontario that the
government knows how to properly spend money in health care…by
investing in tomorrow’s health professionals.”
If a strike occurs this Friday,
it will be the first in Michener’s 51-year history.
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