TORONTO, Oct. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - Two thousand Unifor members and retirees are expected to join the rally with the Ontario Health Coalition and other advocates to defend public health care on Tuesday, October 23, at Queen's Park, Toronto.
What: Rally to protect public health care
Who: Jerry Dias, National President; Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director; Katha Fortier, Assistant to the National President; and Andy Savela, Director of Health Care
When: Tuesday, October 23 at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Queen's Park, Toronto
"Premier Ford has to address the undeniable crisis in health care - patients are feeling it and health care workers are feeling it every day," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "Pre-election, Doug Ford promised to end hallway medicine, but instead he's hired former B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, who slashed health care in favour of privatization. Unifor is here to say hands off our health care."
With thousands expected to attend, the rally aims to demonstrate Ontarians' overwhelming opposition to health care privatization and funding cuts and to support a long-term care system that puts the needs of residents first.
"Less than one year ago, Conservative MPPs unanimously supported the Time to Care Act that would have ensured every single long-term care resident sees a minimum of four hours of care every day," said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. "Promising new beds is not enough when Personal Support Workers are simply run ragged, expected to care for more than a dozen residents in a shift; it's no wonder nursing homes can't fill shifts and job retention and recruitment is abysmal."
Unifor represents more than 30,000 health care workers, including hospitals, long-term care, emergency services, and community and social services.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
SOURCE Unifor
For more information or to arrange an interview with one of our speakers, please contact Unifor Communications Representative Asma Farooq at [email protected] or 647-327-9371 (cell).
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