Communications

OHA Welcomes Start of Contract Negotiations with the Ontario Nurses’ Association


Ontario Hospital Association
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Monday, February 27, 2006

OHA Welcomes Start of Contract Negotiations with the Ontario Nurses’ Association

The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) welcomes the beginning of collective agreement negotiations with the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA), said OHA President and CEO Hilary Short.

The negotiations, aimed at securing a new, multi-year collective agreement between Ontario’s hospitals and the approximately 50,000 members of the ONA who work in hospitals, are scheduled to begin on Monday, February 27, 2006.

“Ontario’s hospitals are great places for nurses to work,” said Short. “Ontario’s patients value the skill and commitment that nurses bring to their jobs, and our hospitals offer nurses great opportunities to meet their personal and professional goals.”

What makes Ontario’s hospitals great places for nurses to work?

            • Strong Commitment to Nursing: Since 1998, the number of full-time nurses in Ontario’s hospitals has risen from 15,482 to 25,124 – an increase of 9,642.
            • Competitive Compensation: At $36.52 per hour, plus benefits, Ontario’s senior full-time nurses (25+ years experience) are the best-compensated in Canada.
            • Safe Workplaces: Hospitals are among the safest places to work in Ontario. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Health Care Health and Safety Association of Ontario found that the frequency of lost-time injury in Ontario’s hospitals (1.87) was lower than the provincial average (1.88).
            • Professional Development: Through the Nursing Education Initiative (NEI), each RN and RPN in the Ontario is eligible to receive a $1,500 annual educational grant to support professional development, including attending courses, conferences, and workshops.
            • Career Support: The Government of Ontario funds a number of initiatives that support nurses, including those to create full-time positions for new nursing graduates and to retain our most experienced nurses.

“Nurses are a critical part of Ontario’s health care team, and we look forward to a productive negotiating process over the coming weeks and months,” said Short.

For further information:
OHA Public Affairs
416-205-1305