A landmark agreement has been reached between the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (a division of CUPE) and the Ontario Hospital Association. The agreement runs from September 29, 2009 to September 28, 2013.
There are no concessions in this agreement and real gains, including improvements in job security. Most significantly, the agreement enables a worker transferred in healthcare restructuring, privatization or a sale of business to post back into their hospital at any point during the four-year term of the contract, carrying back the full seniority they left with.
The agreement features wage increases of two per cent each year, and vacation, benefit, shift and weekend premiums.
“This agreement should be a hopeful sign for all Ontario workers, because it provides real wage increases, enhances job security and makes improvements in other areas,” said Ontario Council of Hospital Unions President Michael Hurley.
“The central bargaining team is very proud that we could negotiate a fourth consecutive collective agreement prior to expiry, with gains for our members despite a challenging bargaining and economic climate.”
18,500 hospital workers represented by CUPE are directly covered by the agreement. Another 11,500 hospital workers represented by CUPE, whose employers do not participate in central bargaining, will follow this pattern, as will the central 17,000 member hospital bargaining group of SEIU, and 1,500 member northern Ontario hospital group of CAW.
These negotiations constitute one of the largest sets of bargaining in Canada in either the public or private sectors.