By Wendy Lee, Local 575, inSolidarity Committee
In a stark reminder of the damage done by privatization, Doug Ford’s recent privatization of cataract surgeries was put under the microscope during the OPSEU/SEFPO Hospital Professionals Divisional Convention Caucus meeting on Apr 9, 2026.
Ontario Health Coalition Chair Natalie Mehra explained that since Ford privatized cataract surgeries five years ago, thousands of Ontarians no longer have easy access to the procedure.
“Roughly 14,000 cataract surgeries were performed in private care in the first year of privatization,” says Mehra. “The same amount of money could have been stretched to serve 17,000 patients in public funded facilities.”
Cataract surgeries – including the eye drops, the lenses, the measurements, and the surgery – are all fully covered by OHIP. But the procedure takes just 10 minutes and private clinics are misleading the public, making roughly $500 per procedure. “They are exploiting vulnerable patients for 5 to 10 times the actual cost,” she said, pointing the blame squarely back at Ford and the provincial government.
“Ford downright lied,” said Mehra. “Two months before the provincial elections, he denied privatization was going to happen, and then, two months after elections, clinics started privatizing en masse.”
Want to help push back on privatization?
Join the May 28 Ontario Health Coalition rally at Queen’s Park. For further information, please visit the OHC website.
Grifols paid-plasma deaths – the Cautionary Tale
HPD Chair Sara Labelle says members are deeply saddened by the widely reported deaths that occurred recently at a Grifols paid-plasma facility in Manitoba.
We, as the public need to be more prepared – there may be serious life-threatening consequences when a lack of strong governance structure is in place. This is not just a fight for union members, it’s about community.
Read also: Donation of blood has always been free. Why charge now?
As more news develops and becomes available, HPD will continue to advocate for patient care, safe procedures and protocols that fall under the umbrella of the duty of care.
Reclassification Grievances
HPD has been working through several reclassification grievances. Under the Central collective agreement language – reclassification language under 25.01(b) applies only to the Central wage grid.
Reclassification grievances occur when multiple hospitals under Central negotiations file similar grievances – the reclassification language can then be triggered.
Reclassification is addressed when HPD is seeking substantive change within specific job titles/classifications. In 2019, HPD completed the reclassification process for pharmacy technicians. All the grievances were consolidated and eventually underwent the arbitration process.
The same reclassification process for Registered Dietitians (RD) started four years ago. After 10 days of hearings before arbitrator Elizabeth McIntyre, HPD is now waiting for McIntyre’s decision (which will be called an “arbitration award”).
Important note: the outcome will only be relevant to hospitals that negotiate centrally. For those that negotiate locally, they’ll need to negotiate RD changes at their own local tables.
Once the RD arbitration award is issued, the central reclassification process for Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists – other reclassification grievances that have been filed by central-bargaining locals include ECGs, MLTs, MLAs, and genetics technologists.
The HPD Executive will be reaching out to the hospitals that initiated the grievances.
Pay Equity Updates
New jobs not already evaluated during the initial Pay Equity Evaluation process will need to be evaluated in the maintenance or “go forward” Pay Equity plan. Surveys will be sent out by OHA.
Local presidents will need to decide who will filling out those surveys – respondants should not be directed by the Employer.
Keep an eye out for OPSEU/SEFPO correspondence as HPD will be sending information to Local Presidents when updates are ready to be sent out.
Pension update from HOOPP CFO Reena Carter
HOOPP Pension Plan CFP Reena Carter provided a detailed update to the caucus attendees about the headway that HOOPP has achieved.
Read more: HOOPP had a strong performance in 2025 – CFO says contribution rates remain stable
Bargaining updates
Central negotiations moved to Arbitration again, which was conducted on March 6 and 7, 2026. HPD will be heading into another round of negotiations shortly. This round of negotiations with OHA has been challenging.
Unfortunately, there’s likely going to be overlap between the current round of negotiations into the next upcoming round of negotiations.
All oral submissions and physical documents have been submitted pertaining to this current round of negotiations. Arbitrator Colin Johnston will now spend some significant time reviewing everything.
Johnston will take into consideration the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA).
Key Aspects of HLDAA
- Purpose: Provides a substitute for strikes and lockouts, ensuring stability in hospital labour relations. HPD members do not have the ability to strike.
- Mandatory Arbitration: If negotiations for a new collective agreement fail, unresolved issues are decided by a neutral arbitrator or arbitration board.
- Application: Applies to employees in hospitals, nursing homes, and similar institutions.
- Process: The Minister of Labour appoints experts to chair these arbitration boards.
HLDAA ensures that disputes regarding compensation working conditions are settled through a structured arbitration process rather than work stoppages.
Application of HLDAA in simplified language
- The arbitrator will consider what HPD members would get if members were allowed to strike.
- Comparability – if others have the same specific language in their collective agreement language that HPD is interested in having as well, then it may be easier to advocate for it to be included in the cCentral collective agreement language.
- Demonstrate need – evidence that HPD members need this language.
Preparing for next round of bargaining
Once the arbitration award has been released for the current round of central bargaining, dates will be announced for the next round.
HPD is already preparing: a pre-bargainig conference will be held in London, Ontario June 9 and 10,, 2026 (the conference is being held in London because the 2026 World Cup will be running in Toronto). Two bargaining unit members need to be elected per local, and they will be invited to attend.
Bargaining Campaign Communication Update
The non-right-to-strike fund is now available to help strengthen HPD’s bargaining by raising HPD members’ public profile.
How has this fund been used thus far by HPD?
- Development of website: www.NoCareWithoutThem.ca
- Conducting Podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Audacity
- Digital Out-of-Home – for broad campaign awareness
- Social Media
- Roadside Billboards
As the campaign continues to cultivate public awareness, HPD will continue to steward a portion of the non-right-to-strike fund to help all HPD members in Central Negotiations.