Download a PDF of the bulletin.
Message from OPSEU/SEFPO President & First Vice-President/Treasurer
Thank you to all Hospital Professionals in OPSEU/SEFPO for your dedication to supporting Ontarians during this extremely difficult time. Wave after wave, you have kept pushing through this pandemic to deliver quality care and keep our hospitals running. You are front-line heroes, and you deserve respect and recognition for the professionalism and strength you’ve shown.
As you go into bargaining, OPSEU/SEFPO’s 180,000 members and our 300-plus staff experts are standing with you, as well as the support of the public. You can count on our full support. Your dedication in unprecedented times has earned you the respect you’ve always deserved. We are with you every step of the way.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida, First Vice-President/Treasurer
Message from Hospital Professionals Division Chair
This pandemic has shown the skill and resilience of all hospital professionals. I’m proud to be the Chair of this incredible division, and proud to be working on the frontlines with you every day.
We’ve all been under extreme pressure since the pandemic began, taking on heavy workloads, dealing with understaffing, and facing the risks of contracting COVID-19 as we work hard to keep our healthcare system running. Let’s take the lessons we’ve learned over the past year, including the need for even stronger protections around our own health and safety, and get an even stronger agreement that will protect us through anything!
Sara Labelle, Hospital Professionals Division Chair
Message from Bargaining Team Chair
My gratitude goes out to you all for the support you’ve shown to your bargaining team. We’ve all been through a lot since last March, and it has highlighted the importance of having a collective agreement that can see us through the pandemic recovery and any health crisis that may ever arise again.
Our solidarity has carried us through over the past year of changes to how we work, the vaccination rollout, and the demand for our services and it’ll be key during bargaining as well. Our bargaining team is experienced and capable, and I’m confident we’ll be successful in bargaining a strong collective agreement!
Sandi Blancher, Bargaining Team Chair
Pre-Bargaining Conference: Highlights
Our Pre-Bargaining Conference was held on May 13, 2021 from 9am-4pm over Zoom. At the conference, participants discussed:
- Bargaining survey results
- Bill 124 and central bargaining
- Bargaining timelines
- Current economic landscape in Ontario (presented by Randy Robinson, Ontario Director for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives)
- Divisional Executive recommendations for bargaining
Following this, nominations were made and elections were held for our central bargaining team and alternates!
Meet your Bargaining Team
Central Team
Chair: Sandi Blancher
L106 – London Health Sciences Centre
Vice-Chair: Betty Palmieri
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
Alternates
Kelly Richmond
L480 – Quinte Healthcare Corporation– 1st Alternate
Jelena Audet
L227 – Headwaters Health Care Centre – 2nd Alternate
Stephany Clark
L260 – Grey Bruce Health Services – 3rd Alternate
What’s Next: Demand-set meetings
Locals participating in bargaining will be holding demand-set meetings to outline the issues they’d like to raise at the bargaining table.
A provide-wide demand-set meeting will be held in November 2021.
Keep an eye on your email for more information from your bargaining team on what’s to come!
In solidarity,
Chair: Sandi Blancher
L106 – London Health Sciences Centre
Vice-Chair: Betty Palmieri
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