What if Canadian physicians could unionize? A voting opportunity in February

Imagine if breaks were built into your work day, and if you missed them, you got overtime.Imagine getting overtime at all.Imagine getting pay raises.Imagine a real pension plan.Canadian physicians have given up on these dreams. We're told we can't, and legally, we're not allowed to unionize or strike.As a result, the government doesn't listen to physicians. We are captive workers with no strong voice and no convincing way to protest, we put the patients first, and we live in fear of our disciplinary colleges.It's no secret that other healthcare professionals have unions that negotiate successfully for rights and benefits.Legally, physicians have been barred from unions.That may change.Ontario's coroners will vote on an opportunity to join the Ontario Public Service Employees Union on February 6th & 7th, 2025.After speaking to Dr. Jeannie Walton, the Ontario Coroner Association President, this was what I understood:It was decreed that Ontario coroners weren't acting as physicians with patients, because their patients were deceased.Coroners found a silver lining that, as supposed non-physicians, they now have the opportunity to unionize through OPSEU.Why would the coroners vote to unionize?The simplest answer is stronger bargaining power. The Ontario's Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) refused to negotiate with coroners at all for 10 years. The Ontario Medical Association would not represent them, offering them status only as a special interest group.During that time, the coroners had been locked in the same poor pay since 2010 (before that, they were paid the same fee from 1990 to 2010). Doctors were and are paid 40 or 41 cents a kilometre for mileage since 2003. Meanwhile, Body Transport Services successfully negotiated $4.50/km in April 2023, with annual increases.Ontario coroners voted to have OPSEU represent them for a new agreement, and suddenly, the government was willing to negotiate for the first time since 2010, hammering out an agreement in 2023.Now coroners will vote on a framework where OPSEU would have the right to negotiate with the government and OCC in the future and legally bind them to these terms, since right now, the government and OCC can simply walk away as they had for the previous decade.One of the coroner leaders pointed out that he had been negotiating for the past three years. He was at the end of his career, but trying to help the next generation. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity."Another coroner agreed and said this was a vote for hope and a vote for the future.Why would coroners not want to unionize?Issue: "I don't want to strike."Reply: OPSEU doesn't impose strikes. Coroners would vote on any job action themselves.Issue: "I'm scared the government would replace physicians with nurses."Reply: The government is already well on its way in doing so in all spheres. This article by the CBC is quite enlightening, where the chief coroner, Dr. Dick Huyer, openly admits to not negotiating for 10 years while concurrently introducing nurse coroner investigators.Having a strong voice (or any voice) at the bargaining table is the one thing that could slow this trend."What's in it for OPSEU?"They would receive 1.375% of coroners' gross pay. Part of this would be returned to the Coroner's Local. The dues would be tax deductible for members.The vote will take place by email Feb. 6 and 7, 2025. The majority will rule.Will these Ontario physicians take the opportunity to unionize?Only time will tell.This article was written by an Ontario physician.

What if Canadian physicians could unionize? A voting opportunity in February

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