On June 9 and 10, delegates, members, and observers from across Ontario gathered for the 2026 HPD Pre-Bargaining Conference. More than 100 people attended the conference (80 in-person, 30 virtual) to discuss the pressing issues in the sector and to elect a bargaining team and alternates for the upcoming round of bargaining.
Over the course of two days, delegates heard from OPSEU/SEFPO President JP Hornick and First Vice-President/Treasurer Laurie Nancekivell, previous Bargaining Team Chair Betty Palmieri and Vice-Chair Brenda Allan, as well as Wassim Garzouzi of Raven Law LLP.
The newly elected bargaining team faces a hospital sector threatened by ongoing funding challenges, worsening privatization, and increasingly difficult bargaining rounds under the Ford government.
Delegates have a team prepared to tackle these challenges and many others head-on.
“This is the first time we’ve elected an all-female bargaining team” said HPD DivEx Chair Sara Labelle. “Today we made herstory.”
Many thanks to all members who stood for positions in elections and to their nominators.
Your bargaining team election results are as follows:
Bargaining team
- Betty Palmieri, Local 206
- Brenda Allan, Local 215
- Tanya Niemi, Local 227
- Beverly Weaver, Local 4106
- Jenna Dhillon, Local 106
- Gail Kelly, Local 715
- Megan North, Local 373
- First alternate – Katleyn Paige, Local 215
- Second alternate – Rebecca Glover, Local 106
- Third alternate – Christa Walker, Local 383