Published by InsideToronto.com
January 20, 2010
Written by Lisa Queen
URL: http://www.insidetoronto.com/community/health/article/507868--union-delivers-protest-cards-to-surprised-hospital-president 

Following a small rally outside Humber River Regional Hospital's Church Street site Tuesday, Jan. 19, afternoon, a handful of union representatives delivered a wheelbarrow full of protest cards to president Dr. Rueben Devlin.

Taken off guard by the ambush, Devlin initially closed his office door on the protesters before opening it and telling them they had no right to barge in.

He went on to say he would meet with union representatives, who are with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), if they went through proper channels.

"If you want a meeting with me, you book it like regular people book it," a flustered Devlin said.

"I'm always available to meet in an orderly fashion. Bring issues ahead without the theatrics."

The union members, who are conducting similar protests at hospitals across Ontario, left Devlin the protest cards in a box before retreating from the building.

Back outside, Richard Saladziak, the union's representative for Humber River, chided Devlin for his reaction.

"If he didn't know why we were here, I have to ask why he is here (in his position as hospital president)," he said.

About 20 union representatives gathered for the rally, where they protested a break down in contract negotiations with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

The impasse could lead to binding arbitration, which the SEIU wants to avoid.

"Negotiate, not arbitrate," union members chanted at the rally.

However, while the union focused on labour issues, in a media advisory advertising the protest, it had billed the rally as an event "to demand urgent action over the worsening crisis at local hospitals."

According to Carol McDowell, vice-president of the registered practicing nursing division with SEIU Local 1 Canada, negotiations have bogged down over two issues.

The first is a proposal the union says will address nursing shortages, patient care and workers' safety and the second is over contract language related to hiring.

McDowell said patients are affected by the first issue because the union is pushing to immediately address patient care and worker safety incidents on the spot rather than going through a cumbersome grievance process.

Meanwhile, Saladziak focused on the second issue, complaining jobs are often awarded arbitrarily based on nepotism and favouritism rather than experience and seniority.

"To cherry pick who they want to do what job, we are saying we are going to put an end to this discrimination once and for all," he said.

A spokesperson for the OHA could not be reached for comment.

The union is still determining which other hospitals it will hold rallies at but internal organizing director Bill Hulme said possible sites in Toronto include North York General Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto East General Hospital and Runnymede Healthcare Centre.