Message from Bargaining Team Chair
We’ve all been under a lot of pressure since the start of this pandemic, and even before that. HPD members spoke loud and clear in your demand set feedback – we deserve better. We deserve more respect and recognition for how hard we work every day to provide care to patients in our hospitals, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. We need to see that respect and recognition in our collective agreements. On behalf of the entire bargaining team, I’d like to say how grateful we are for the encouragement we’ve received from HPD members in the past months. It truly takes a team effort to prepare for bargaining, and the support we’ve received from HPD members has undoubtedly fueled the fire to get us here. In solidarity, Sandi Blancher, Bargaining Team ChairBargaining Updates
Since our final demand set meeting in November, the bargaining team has been meeting regularly. We have been reviewing the demands you’ve identified as priorities in your demand set surveys surveys and at the provincial demand set meeting last November and we are preparing proposals for bargaining based on the strong mandate you’ve given us. We also submitted a request for exemption from Bill 124 to the Treasury Board as a measure to alert the Treasury Board to the negative impact the legislation will have on our members. It was also done so that our ability to bargain for fair wage increases is not negatively impacted by this unconstitutional bill. We are awaiting a response from them and will let you know if and when we get a response.What’s Next
We are set to begin bargaining with the Ontario Hospital Association on the week of April 26th, with a total of 12 days scheduled in April and May. We are focused on having productive conversations that will achieve a strong collective agreement for all Hospital Professionals. Should we be unable to reach an agreement at the bargaining table, the parties will enter into the conciliation process and will have the assistance of a conciliation officer from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in an effort to reach an agreement at the end of May and if the parties are still not successful in reaching an agreement then the parties will enter into interest arbitration, where arbitrator William Kaplan will hear from both sides on the outstanding items and will issue a settlement which is binding on both parties. Thank you for your support and confidence in us – we will work hard for you! We will be in touch with further updates as bargaining continues. In solidarity, Sandi Blancher, Bargaining Chair L106 – London Health Sciences Centre Betty Palmieri, Bargaining Vice-Chair L206 – St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton Brenda Allan L215 – Niagara Health System Bev Weaver L4106 – Kingston Health Sciences Centre Kelly Richmond L480 – Quinte Healthcare Corporation Adrian Balojin L206 – St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton Steve McCaw L106 – London Health Sciences Centre