Bargaining Begins: Making Our Priorities KnownLast week, your HPD central bargaining team met with the Ontario Hospitals Association (OHA) to begin negotiations on the issues that matter most to hospitals professionals across Ontario. Both sides tabled their first set of proposals, and one thing was made very clear – our approaches to finding solutions to the health care crisis in Ontario are fundamentally different.Our proposals aim to address the crisis in our system by investing in the workforce that keeps hospitals running. In contrast, the OHA presented proposals rooted in the absence of funding coupled with an expectation to do more with less – requiring flexibility and compromise from an already overworked and underappreciated workforce. This is not how we fix health care.As we continue through negotiations, we must continue to put pressure on the provincial government. We need to let them know that their budget proposing a ‘lean’ approach to health care fails to recognize the reality in our hospitals. We need real investment and respect for hospital professionals – not more cuts disguised as efficiency.Bargaining DocumentsTo support transparency and keep everyone informed and engaged, we have included links to the full opening proposals from both the union and the OHA below:
OPSEU/SEFPO Proposals OHA ProposalsBargaining Solidarity RallyOur power at the table is rooted in the solidarity of the membership and this week, our efforts at the table were supported by solidarity rallies in Cambridge, Thunder Bay, Toronto and Peterborough. Thank you to all the folks who came out and showed the OHA what solidarity looks like!
Send a message to Ontario health leaders and tell them hospital professionals are essential!
Bargaining SummaryYour bargaining team began the week with tabling a strong set of proposals built around six key themes that will shape our priorities at the table. These themes are:
- Compensation
- Job security
- Recruitment and Retention
- Safety and Wellness,
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Other Key Issues
The OHA’s opening proposals focused on finding cost efficiencies through increased worker contributions to benefits and the ability to reassign staff across health care affiliates, including private clinics. Their approach demands flexibility while undermining union protections – and we know this is not how we improve our health care system.While each set of proposals approaches solutions to health care differently, we have made important progress on several non-monetary issues, including improvements to language on job postings, discipline and barriers to union participation.Although by the end of the week we have reached an impasse on the remaining non-monetary items from the first pass, we remain committed to productive dialogue as we move into future negotiations on both monetary and outstanding non-monetary issues.
Upcoming DatesUpcoming bargaining dates for bargaining are scheduled for the following days:
- June 23 – 24 (conciliation days)
- July 21 – 22 (mediation days)
Bargaining Town HallYour bargaining team will be hosting regular Bargaining Town Halls throughout negotiations. These Town Halls will be open to all HPD members and will be your chance to hear real-time updates, ask questions and keep up with our progress at the table. Come out to hear about how things are going and get involved!Our first Town Hall is scheduled for June 4 from 7pm to 8pm.*More Dates to Come as Bargaining Progresses*As we progress through bargaining, your team will continue to keep you updated on our progress at the table. We encourage you to get involved, attend bargaining town halls, engage with member mobilizers and help us tell the provincial government to properly fund health care in Ontario!In Solidarity,Your HPD Bargaining Team:
Betty Palmieri – Chair
L206 – St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton
Brenda Allan – Vice-Chair
L215 – Niagara Health System
Adrian-Alexandru Balojin
L206 – St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton
Katie Lambert
L106 – London Health Sciences Centre
Tanya Niemi
L227 – Headwaters Healthcare Centre Orangeville
Megan North
L373 – Peterborough Regional Health Centre
Bev Weaver
L4106 – Kingston Health Sciences Centre
