Amendments to Ontarios Bill 8 appear to protect collective agreements and respect the rights of unions representing health care workers, but there remain questions about the governments real agenda in restructuring health care services.
Weve won half the battle, says Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Health Care Unions.
This past week, the provinces minister of health introduced amendments to Bill 8 that made clear the minister will have no power to override collective agreements or their job security provisions. At the same time, the legislation gives the government much greater powers to act unilaterally to restructure health care.
This raises concerns they will restructure hospital services, including clerical, administrative and support services, threatening the jobs of thousands of CUPE members.
OCHU has called a second province-wide conference of its leadership for March 31 to plan further steps.
OCHU legal analysis of the amendments to Bill 8 [english only]