The Paro Collective Agreement: What You Need to Know
The Paro Collective Agreement, also known as the Paro Master Agreement, is a legally binding agreement between the Professional Association of Residents of Ontario (Paro) and the Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (CAHO). This collective agreement outlines the terms and conditions of employment for resident physicians in Ontario.
Resident physicians, also known as residents, are medical graduates who are undergoing further training to become specialists in a particular field of medicine. As part of their training, residents are employed by hospitals and healthcare institutions across Ontario. The Paro Collective Agreement governs their employment, including their working conditions, compensation, and benefits.
The current Paro Collective Agreement was signed in 2018 and is valid until June 30, 2021. It covers residents in all specialties and training programs across Ontario. Here are some of the key features of the agreement:
Working hours: The agreement specifies that residents must work no more than 24 consecutive hours and no more than 72 hours in any seven-day period. Residents are entitled to 48 hours off duty per week, and must be provided with adequate rest and sleep facilities.
Vacation: Residents are entitled to four weeks of paid vacation per year, as well as ten additional statutory holidays. They are also entitled to five days of paid sick leave per year.
Compensation: Residents are paid a stipend or salary based on a predetermined scale. The amount they are paid depends on their level of training and the specialty they are pursuing. In addition to their base salary, residents are eligible for a range of benefits, including health and dental insurance, disability insurance, and life insurance.
Professional development: The agreement recognizes the importance of professional development for residents. It ensures that residents have access to training opportunities, including continuing education and specialty-specific training programs.
In addition to these key features, the Paro Collective Agreement also contains provisions for parental leave, bereavement leave, and other types of leave. It also sets out a dispute resolution mechanism for disputes between residents and their employers.
In the world of medicine, the Paro Collective Agreement is an important document. It ensures that residents are treated fairly and have access to the support they need to succeed in their training. It also helps to ensure that patients receive the highest quality of care, by ensuring that residents are not overworked or overstressed.
If you are a resident physician in Ontario, it is important to familiarize yourself with the Paro Collective Agreement. By understanding your rights and obligations under this agreement, you can ensure that you are being treated fairly and that your training is on track.