St. Joseph's lab professionals win "a voice and a choice" with OPSEU

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Medical laboratory professionals at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto have voted 100 per cent in favour of joining the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

"With the merger this year of St. Joseph's, Providence Healthcare, and St. Michael's Hospital, the bargaining units of hospital professionals at the three sites will merge as well," said Sara Labelle, chair of the Hospital Professionals Division of OPSEU. "By choosing OPSEU, the lab professionals at St. Joseph's have given themselves two things: first, a strong voice defending their interests in the workplace, effective immediately, and second, a choice in the upcoming merger vote.

"We look forward to representing these newest OPSEU members, and we look forward to talking to all the hospital professionals at the three sites about our great union."

The rules governing the run-off vote are set out in the provincial Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act (PSLRTA). In the case of St. Joseph's, Providence Healthcare, and St. Michael's Hospital, a number of medical lab staff at St. Michael's are currently represented by the Canadian National Federation of Independent Unions (CNFIU), a branch of the Labourers International Union of North America (LIUNA). No date has been set for the run-off vote between OPSEU and CNFIU.

"OPSEU has been a strong voice for allied health professionals in Ontario since 1969," said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "We know the work, we know the issues, and we know how Ontario labour law works.

"When hospital professionals join OPSEU, they get great representation and the knowledge that comes with nearly half a century of experience in health care in Ontario," he said. "We can't wait to get started working with our new members at St. Joseph's."

SOURCE Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU)