Download the bargaining bulletin.
Message from the President and First Vice-President/Treasurer
From the moment the pandemic began, OPSEU/SEFPO Hospital Professionals Division members stepped up to the plate to care for the public. You saved lives and kept hospitals safe under extremely difficult circumstances. No one can deny your value. Your workplaces, and your lives have changed since March 2020, and your Collective Agreement must reflect those changes. Stronger workplace protections for hospital professionals means a stronger health care system for Ontarians. Please know that your bargaining team will have our full support, and that of all 180,000 OPSEU/SEFPO members, the public, and our highly-skilled union staff to help achieve a strong Collective Agreement. Together, we’ll fight for stronger protections, safer working conditions, and even better benefits that support your physical and mental health. In solidarity, Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU/SEFPO President Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-President/Treasurer
Message from the HPD Chair
Hospital professionals have been stretched to our limits and then some during this pandemic, and we are still standing strong. In the face of heavy workloads, understaffing, long hours, risks to our personal health and so much more, we have shown up every day and provided high quality care and services for our patients. In all the uncertainty that this pandemic has brought, Ontarians knew that they could count on us. We deserve recognition for our skill, dedication and resilience from our employer and from the government. Let’s keep standing strong and negotiate the Collective Agreement improvements that we all deserve. In solidarity, Sara Labelle, Hospital Professionals Division Chair
Message from your Bargaining Team Chair
In this time of crisis, Ontarians have relied on hospital professionals to protect and care for them more than ever. On top of our many long-standing issues, we must now make sure that we have a Collective Agreement that will protect us throughout this pandemic and any future health crises that may occur. Thank you to everyone who participated in our Demand Set Meeting to give the bargaining team a strong mandate for this round of bargaining. We will work hard for you to achieve the improvements to health and safety, job security and compensation that we all deserve! In solidarity, Sandi Blancher, Bargaining Team Chair
Bargaining Updates
On November 5th and 6th, the HPD Bargaining Provincial Demand Set Meeting was held virtually over Zoom to determine our key priorities for the 2022 round of central negotiations. This was the first time the demand setting process was conducted virtually and we are proud to say it was a success. Thank you to all of the delegates, alternates and observers who attended. Considering the challenges that HPD members have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, it came as no surprise that health and safety and job security were the key bargaining priorities brought forward by the membership. In addition to this, matters related to compensation, such as wages, benefits, vacation, etc., were also discussed. Bill 124 will undoubtedly contain what can be achieved in this round of bargaining to improve compensation, but the bargaining team is committed to maximizing every dollar available.
What’s Next
We are currently in discussion with the Ontario Hospital Association to confirm dates for bargaining. We expect negotiations to begin in Spring 2022. We will be in touch with another update as soon as bargaining dates have been confirmed. Thank you to all HPD members for the support you’ve shown us! Please feel free to reach out to any of us on the team if you have any questions or concerns 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 Beverly Weaver L4106 – Kingston Health Sciences Centre Herve Cavanagh L466 – Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital Adrian-Alexandru Balojin L206 – St. Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton Steven Thomas McCaw L106 – London Health Sciences Centre
