TORONTO - Wednesday, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) bargaining team representing some hospital employees in Ontario walked away from bargaining with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

The SEIU represents 15,855 full and part time employees, including housekeeping staff, dietary aides, and Registered Practical Nurses, at the 37 Ontario hospitals in this bargaining group.

In the presence of a mediator from Ontario's Ministry of Labour, the SEIU bargaining team rejected a proposed contract very similar to ones that were voluntarily agreed to and overwhelmingly ratified by members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Canadian Autoworkers (CAW) earlier this year. The job roles and responsibilities of the employees covered by the CUPE and CAW contracts are identical to those workers represented by the SEIU.

Under their current contract, the average full-time employee represented by the SEIU earns $57,000 per year in total compensation (i.e., salary, benefits, overtime, etc.).

The OHA is extremely disappointed that the SEIU has resorted to press releases and irresponsible, fact-free rhetoric, rather than remaining at the bargaining table and negotiating in good faith.

The OHA encourages the SEIU to return to the bargaining table, because we believe that a negotiated, voluntarily agreed-to contract is in the best interest of patients, taxpayers, and valued hospital employees.