Meet your 2025 Bargaining Team
Bargaining for our Hospital Professionals Division (HPD) Central contract will begin in 2025!The Hospital Professionals Division (HPD) in OPSEU/SEFPO represents approximately 30,000 hospital professionals in more than 100 bargaining units across the province. More than half of our bargaining units will be participating in the central bargaining process with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA). Our current Central contract expires on March 31, 2025.Meet your elected Central bargaining team who will be working hard for you in this upcoming round of negotiations!
Betty Palmieri – Chair
Betty is a Registered Medical Laboratory Technologist who has worked in healthcare for 39 years in Region 2. She has held the positions of Secretary and Vice President prior to becoming President of her Local in 2005.Betty has experience with four rounds of Central Bargaining, from 2011 to present. She was the Vice Chair of the bargaining team in 2016 and 2022. Betty brings this experience, along with a collaborative approach to working with colleagues on the bargaining team, to achieve the best possible outcome for you, our members.Betty likes to think outside the box to come up with creative solutions to problems faced in Union situations as well as in her personal life. Betty loves sewing, cooking and caring for family and friends.
Brenda Allan – Vice-Chair
Brenda works in the Niagara Health System as a Senior Occupational Therapist. Since 2012, she has been the President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 215 (Niagara Health System and Hotel Dieu Shaver Rehabilitation Centre). She is the Treasurer of the Hospital Professional Division Executive, former Chairperson of the Niagara Area council, and served on the last round of central bargaining.Brenda has experience looking at contract language from diverse perspectives, due to her local being a composite local of various sized hospitals and professions. She intends to interpret collective agreement language proposals with thoughtful consideration and provide valuable contributions, working to achieve the best possible outcome for all hospital professionals.Brenda enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She enjoys the outdoors as well as creative outlets such as woodworking and sewing or machine embroidery.
Adrian-Alexandru Balojin
Adrian has worked as a Medical Radiation Technologist at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton since 2010. He has been an active union leader with OPSEU/SEFPO for 13 years.Adrian has experience as a union steward, a Local secretary, and is currently the Vice-President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 206. He was the Provincial Young Workers Representative for Region 2 and is currently a regional organizer on the Hospital Professionals Division Executive.He has participated in two rounds of local bargaining and was on the Central bargaining team for the last round of negotiations. He brings to the bargaining team his years of experience, analytical mind, and outside-of-the-box thinking. In his spare time, he loves to watch Sci-Fi TV shows and enjoys reading.
Katie Lambert
Katie is a Medical Radiation Technologist in MRI at London Health Sciences Centre with over 20 years of experience in diagnostic imaging. She is Vice President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 106, which represents more than 1900 members. With a strong commitment to patient care and professional advocacy, Katie is committed to enhancing workplace conditions and supporting her fellow healthcare professionals.As Vice President of Local 106, Katie is actively involved in several rounds of local bargaining and stays engaged with both local and central issues affecting her colleagues. She is a passionate advocate for job security and actively campaigns against the privatization of healthcare in Ontario, ensuring that the voices of union members are heard and valued.Outside of work, Katie enjoys thrifting and junking, always on the hunt for hidden treasures and unique finds. She cherishes spending time with her kids, whether exploring local markets, crafting, or enjoying outdoor adventures together. These activities help her maintain a well-rounded lifestyle and foster lasting memories with her family.Katie is committed to lifelong learning and professional development. She looks forward to continuing her journey with OPSEU/SEFPO, advocating for her colleagues, and contributing to positive changes in the Hospital Professionals Division.
Tanya Niemi
Tanya is a Senior Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at Headwaters Healthcare Centre in Orangeville. She has been active with OPSEU/SEFPO for over 15 years and has been the President of Local 227 for the last 10 years. She has bargained several local collective agreements, bringing her years of experience to the Central Bargaining table.As a northern girl displaced from small town Espanola to the city, Tanya has perspective of both small town and big city challenges in the Hospital setting. She is a proud hockey mom to her son and a loving wife to her husband of 17 years. The outdoors is where she can be found when not at work, either in the garden, fishing or hiking in the bush.
Megan North
Megan (she/her) works at Peterborough Regional Health Centre as a Social Worker. She is the Vice President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 373.Megan is passionate about her work within the union and brings her knowledge and values to the members. This is the first time she has participated in Central bargaining and she is honoured to represent HPD members at the bargaining table.In her spare time, Megan enjoys gardening, seed trading, and loves to be outdoors.
Bev Weaver
Bev is a Transfusion Safety Officer at Kingston Health Sciences Centre and is the Vice President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 4106. She has been a union activist for over 30 years, with 17 years of experience as the President of Local 4106.Bev has over 25 years of bargaining experience across Central and Local HPD tables as well as experience bargaining with other sectors. She was a member of the Central bargaining team during the previous round of negotiations under Bill 124.In addition to her wealth of experience, Bev brings a strong determination to work hard for HPD members, to get the best outcome by building on the gains achieved in the last round. She is looking forward to participating in bargaining and representing HPD members at the central table.In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, reading and refinishing furniture.
Manzur Malik, OPSEU/SEFPO Negotiator
Manzur has worked for OPSEU/SEFPO for nearly two decades and is currently the Negotiator assigned to HPD. Manzur has expertise in collective bargaining, interest arbitration, and public policy.Manzur has a long history of fighting for workers’ rights. In Bangladesh, he was the Campaigns Coordinator at the Solidarity Centre (affiliated with the AFL-CIO), where he worked towards improving labour relations in the garment sector. During graduate studies at York University, while working as a Teaching Assistant, Manzur became involved with his Union – CUPE 3903. He was first elected as a Vice President and then subsequently as its Chair. Manzur also briefly worked as an Organizer for UNITE HERE.Manzur is passionate about social justice and solidarity. He appreciates good food, films, and music, and in his personal time loves to explore and learn about new places and ideas.
Christian Down, OPSEU/SEFPO Senior Research Officer
Christian is a Research Officer at OPSEU/SEFPO assigned to the Hospital Professionals Division. He has many years of experience with interest arbitrations and providing research support to the healthcare sector, including research for HPD’s wage reopener negotiations.In his spare time, Christian takes photos of birds, makes oil paintings, and rebuilds bicycles.Christian is looking forward to working with the team and the sector for a successful round of bargaining.
Let’s Get Ready to Bargain
Your bargaining team needs all Hospital Professionals to submit your up-to-date information to go into this round of bargaining strong! This will ensure your voice is heard and represented every step of the way.
- Fill out your membership application form
Fill out your membership form
here.
- Update your information in the Member Portal
Name or contact information changed? Update your member information at
https://members.opseu.org
