Ontario Hospital Association and Service Employees International Union Reach Tentative Collective Agreement
Ontario Hospital Association
200 Front Street West, Suite 2800
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3L1
Tel: (416) 205-1345 Fax: (416) 205-1360
Visit our Web Site: http://www.oha.com
Friday, July 21, 2006
Ontario Hospital Association and Service Employees International Union Reach Tentative Collective Agreement
Toronto – The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) announced today that it has reached a negotiated, tentative three-year collective agreement with hospital employees represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).
“The OHA is delighted that we have been able to achieve the unprecedented accomplishment of concluding voluntary three-year settlements with three of the four major unions representing Hospital employees,” said Hilary Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association. “ Negotiated collective agreements are in the best interests of hospital employees and, as a result, our patients.”
Key details of the agreement include:
• Improved labour stability from a proposed three year term (running from October 11, 2006 to October 11, 2009)
• Base wage increases of 2.75 percent in 2006, 3 percent in 2007 and 2.60 percent in 2008
Both parties have agreed to ratification no later than August 18, 2006.
“We have accomplished many important improvements. We hope that this settlement will set a foundation for a continuing, improved working relationship as we face the challenges ahead,” said Neil Fernie, chair of the OHA’s SEIU central negotiating team.
The OHA would also like to extend its sincere thanks and appreciation to mediator Bill Kaplan for his key role in assisting the parties in reaching this collective agreement.
This proposed settlement would cover 34 participating hospitals and approximately 9500 employees. Generally speaking, the settlement would cover dietary assistants and house-keeping and clerical staff and approximately 1700 nurses.
-- 30 --
For further information:
Anthony Dale, VP, Policy & Public Affairs
OHA Policy & Public Affairs
416-205-1348