Ontario Front-Line Nurses Celebrate Labour Day

TORONTO, Sept. 3, 2015 /CNW/ - The 60,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), will join workers across the country to celebrate Labour Day this weekend.

"In the midst of this federal election, Canada's nurses know it has never been more important to get out and show our pride as workers," says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Nurses know that health care is being underfunded and that quality patient care for Canadians has been the casualty."

She notes that "nurses know the extent of the erosion of universal, publicly funded and delivered health care that all Canadians cherish. In our role as patient advocates, we are determined to defend access to quality health care in hospitals, clinics, long-term care, public health, community and home care -- in every health-care setting."

Haslam-Stroud says that, "Our 60,000 members depend on their professional union to improve their socio-economic welfare and working conditions. People across this province have unions to thank for workplace health and safety laws, paid vacation time and a host of other workplace rules and regulations -- including the existence of the weekend -- designed to better their lives. I invite Ontarians to participate in Labour Day activities in their own communities. In Toronto, ONA members, their families, friends, board members and staff will be participating in the annual Labour Day parade on Monday," she says. "ONA's website has a list of Labour Day events taking place across the province. As history has shown us so clearly, it is through unity, solidarity and strength that all workers achieve fairness and equality."

ONA is the union representing 60,000 front-line registered nurses and allied health professionals as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, industry and clinics.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; www.Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Ontario Nurses' Association: Sheree Bond, [phone], ext. 2430, [email protected]; Melanie Levenson, [phone], ext. 2369, [email protected]