We hire a real estate agent to help us find a house. She only gets paid when a deal closes.

Good agents try to find something we will like.

But that takes time.

Agents have to ask questions, listen to us and then test what they have heard by showing us a few houses.

Often, agents hear wrong, or we do not explain ourselves very well.

Good real estate agents spend time and money to learn how to represent our interests with confidence.

Bad agents try to close a deal as soon as possible.

The OMA is negotiating a dispute resolution process with government, right now.

Doctors want this.

We hope the dispute resolution process will be fair and reasonable. The OMA tells doctors that it is moving along well.

But as soon as the OMA and government agree to a dispute resolution process, the government will want to begin negotiations on a physician services agreement (aka contract).

Who could blame it?

An election looms.

The government finally wants to resolve labour problems with doctors. It does not want to drag negotiations into the fall, or next year.

The OMA will face immense pressure to enter negotiations as soon as they have settled a dispute resolution process. Continue reading “Doctors Need a Good Agent – OMA Negotiations”

There are two kinds of homeowners. The first kind would never change faucets and doorknobs. They buy a house, tear it down and start over. 

Other people keep what they can tolerate. They cannot afford to be radical.

No matter the approach, everyone agrees: The point of renovation is to rebuild.

Like an old house, the OMA sprawls with additions, legacy rooms and dark closets unfit for visitors. It’s tired and dysfunctional. Most people finally admit it.

The OMA was never built to service 42,000 members. It was not designed to command a battle with an activist, majority government in the trenches of social media.

Crisis can bring out the best in people. It often brings out the worst in organizations. The OMA crisis exposed problems that no one talked about when times were good. Continue reading “Time to Rebuild the OMA”

The movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, is a political thriller, despite all the crying, hugging and cuteness.

At its core, the movie portrays a battle of political visions.

Will George Bailey accept Mr. Potter’s salary in exchange for Mr. Potter’s iron control of Bailey’s Savings and Loan?

Will George stand up for his own political vision, of small loans for his neighbours, or will he sacrifice his integrity for Mr. Potter’s vision of control and serfdom under Potter?

The movie pivots on George’s refusal to accept Potter’s vision of reality.

The following 2 minute, 30 second clip captures the struggle:

Selling Out

Once surrendered, integrity is almost impossible to regain. Some say doctors have surrendered too much already. We gave in years ago: Better to compromise and get a raise than lose a fight and suffer more fee cuts! Continue reading “Political Vision Must Come Before Negotiation”