Media Advisory - Unions oppose real wage cuts for "health-care heroes"

News provided by

Ontario Nurses' Association

May 17, 2021, 13:00 ET

TORONTO, May 17, 2021 /CNW/ - Front-line health-care workers in Ontario do not believe the Ford government values them or their work, due to wage-suppression legislation.

Leaders of the four largest Ontario health-care unions will hold a virtual media conference Tuesday to discuss the serious impact on those struggling to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to call for the immediate repeal of Bill 124.

Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Vicki McKenna, SEIU Healthcare President Sharleen Stewart, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE) President Michael Hurley and Unifor Assistant to the National President Katha Fortier say hundreds of thousands of front-line nurses, personal support workers and other health-care front-line staff are targeted for wage cuts, despite their outstanding contribution during the pandemic.

Ontario health-care staff have bravely stepped up to provide care during the pandemic, at great personal cost. As inflation begins to soar, their incomes are being cut in real terms, while police, fire, and other male-dominated essential workforces are exempt.

Media are asked to pre-register for the event, to be hosted on Zoom from 9:00 to 9:45 am on Tuesday, May 18. Please email [email protected] to register. The Zoom link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86151647078

Collectively, the four unions represent more than 200,000 nurses, personal support workers, environmental/infection control services, administrative, professional and other health-care staff in hospitals, long-term care and community settings.

What:  Virtual media conference to call for the repeal of Bill 124
Who: Leaders of the Ontario Nurses' Association, CUPE/SCFP Ontario, SEIU Healthcare, Unifor Ontario
When: Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 9:00 to 9:45 am

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Corey Johnson, SEIU Healthcare, 416-529-8909; Hamid Osman, Unifor, 647.448.2823; Sheree Bond, Ontario Nurses' Association: 416-986-8240; Stella Yeadon, OCHU/CUPE, 416-559-9300

Related Links

www.ona.org

Organization Profile

Ontario Nurses' Association

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and...