Unifor recognizes the outstanding contributions of nurses during National Nursing Week May 6 - 12, 2019

TORONTO, May 6, 2019 /CNW/ - Unifor recognizes the outstanding contributions of nurses during National Nursing Week May 6 - 12, 2019.

"The Health Care system is an integral part of our social fabric. We value the professional life-saving, and compassionate care nurses provide day in and day out," said Jerry Dias Unifor National President. "RPNs and LPNs are instrumental in ensuring positive health outcomes of people in Canada."

Unifor represents 4000 Registered or Licensed Practical Nurses (RPNs/LPNs) who work in hospitals, private, and municipal long-term care homes.

Nurses work together in high-functioning teams to provide patient care in hospitals, long-term care homes, and communities. They receive specialized training and education, but both are a vital part of the health care system.

Through their unions across the country and around the world, nurses raise standards that benefit all workers, defend strong healthcare systems, and advocate for patients' rights.

As governments in Canada and around the world embrace austerity measures and attack public services, nurses are continually asked to do more with less funding and see their jobs cut. The result of these short-sighted measures always leads to increases in injuries and violence and is unacceptable.

In Ontario, the Conservative government, led by Doug Ford, passed Bill 74 which will result in a major restructuring of the health care system and has the potential to open the door to further privatization of services.

Privatization hurts patients and undermines the health care system in Canada. The quality of care seniors receive in for-profit homes is consistently weaker than public, not for profit care. Privatization also hurts health care workers who are often overworked in homes that are understaffed. Workers are forced to cut corners so their employer can turn a profit.

"Unifor has been at the forefront of the fightback against the privatization of health care. As a union, our commitment is to increase staff-to-patient ratios, improve working conditions, and demand governments invest in health care," said Dias.

For more information please visit www.caretakestime.ca.

Unifor represents more than 30,000 health care workers in 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