'It is in the best interests of the Ontario Hospital Association to work with us on addressing these issues.' - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU president
Toronto (27 Jan. 2009) - Health care professionals from more than 40 Ontario hospitals began bargaining this week to improve working conditions on a series of key issues, including job security, wages, workload and prevention of workplace violence.
Following recent settlements with Ontario’s doctors and nurses, representatives of more than 7,500 health care professionals are negotiating at a central table to renew collective agreements that expire March 31.
They are all members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).
More than 200 occupations are affected, including medical lab technologists, physiotherapists, ECG technicians, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social workers, respiratory therapists, laboratory assistants, medical records technicians, MRI technologists, ultrasound technologists, dietitians and others.
“Given the need to recruit and retain these skilled workers, it is in the best interests of the Ontario Hospital Association to work with us on addressing these issues,” says , OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
"Ontario hospitals compete nationally for these professionals. It would simply not be prudent to stall on improvements. Given these shortages, it is foolhardy to contemplate layoffs."
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