Contract negotiations between the Ontario Hospital Association and the union representing thousands of hospital employees have broken down.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees says the talks were terminated after the hospitals refused to address the issue of workplace violence.
CUPE says almost half of direct care hospital staff report being assaulted by patients or patients' family members each year.
The union represents 27,000 staff, including nurses, cleaners, administrative workers and trades staff at 120 hospital sites across the province.