Health care workers demand respect in Kitchener area rallies

KITCHENER, ON, April 17, 2018 /CNW/ - On Wednesday April 18, health care workers at two Kitchener hospitals will rally as part of a province-wide action demanding respect and fairness in negotiations with the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).

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

The Kitchener rally is part of an Ontario action organized jointly by Unifor, the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (OCHU/CUPE), and SEIU Healthcare. Rallies are scheduled over the lunch hour in front of workplaces, including hospitals and health centres. While the Kitchener rallies are happening at two different sites, 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. Other rallies are being led by OCHU/CUPE and SEIU in cities across Ontario.

What: Hospital workers rally in front of two Kitchener hospitals under Together for Respect banner
When: Wednesday April 18, ranging from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. depending on location
Where:

• 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.

Who: Unifor Ontario Regional Director, Naureen Rizvi, hospital workers represented by Unifor, and health care workers and advocates supporting the Together for Respect campaign

"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 National President at Unifor.

Operating as a united bargaining coalition, 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 until 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