Health care workers demand respect in province-wide rallies

TORONTO, April 17, 2018 /CNW/ - On Wednesday April 18, health care workers employed by Ontario hospitals will rally across the province demanding respect and fairness in negotiations with the employers' umbrella group, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

"In an exceptional show of solidarity, unions and workers across Ontario are taking action to present a united front in negotiations to say we are standing together for respect," said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director.

The province-wide rallies organized jointly by Unifor, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (OCHU/CUPE), and SEIU Healthcare are scheduled over the lunch hour in front of workplaces, including hospitals and health centres. While the rallies are happening in different sites where OCHU/CUPE and SEIU Healthcare represents workers, Unifor is holding rallies in nine cities where their members are, including: Belleville, Elliot Lake, Fergus, Kitchener, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, Tillsonburg, Wawa and Windsor.  

What: Together for Respect rallies at hospitals and health centers across Ontario
When: Wednesday April 18, ranging from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. depending on location
Who: Hospital workers represented by Unifor, SEIU Healthcare and OCHU/CUPE health care members
Where:

• Belleville - Quinte Health Care General Hospital, 265 Dundas St. East at 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
• Elliot Lake - St. Joseph's General Hospital, 70 Spine Rd., 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Fergus - Groves Memorial Hospital, 235 Union St., East at 11:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
• Kitchener - St Mary's Hospital, 911 Queen's Blvd., at 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Kitchener - Grand River Hospital at 835 King St. West, at 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.     
• Sault Ste. Marie - Sault Area Hospital, 750 Great Northern Rd., at 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
• Thunder Bay - St. Joseph's Hospital in, 35 N. Algoma St. at 12:00 p.m.
• Tillsonburg - Tillsonburg District Hospital, 167 Rolph St. at 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Wawa - Lady Dunn Health Centre, 17 Government Rd. at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
• Windsor - Regional Hospital, 1030 Ouellette Ave. at 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

"By coming together, Ontario's three largest unions are making history to demand that workers get the respect they deserve. This is about quality employment and quality health care," said Katha Fortier Assistant to the Unifor National President.

Operating as a united bargaining coalitions OCHU/CUPE, SEIU Healthcare and Unifor have come together to seek a negotiated agreement on behalf of 75,000 nurses, personal support workers, porters, administrative staff and dietary, cleaning and trades staff at 160 public hospitals in Ontario.  A bargaining alliance is rare for the unions, which normally negotiate independently with the Ontario hospital employers' umbrella group. Up to this point the unions say the OHA has been unwilling to negotiate fairly.  For more information on this campaign visit Facebook.com/TogetherforRespect

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