Health Care

TORONTO – In a historic moment, Ontario’s five largest health care unions have joined forces, issuing an SOS appeal to Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones: your plan is failing – take action and adopt our solutions to stabilize Ontario’s crashing health care system today.

WINNIPEG—Unifor will fight for public health care after conservative Premier Heather Stefanson promised increased private sector delivery in the speech from the throne.

“Privatization means cutting corners and prioritizing profits over proper care,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Private health care might be popular among the PC’s elite donor class, but it is a non-starter with working people.”

Community and health care activists rallied outside of the Manitoba legislature on October 28, 2022 to launch the union’s “Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us.” campaign to improve the working conditions and wages of Association for Community Living (ACL) workers.

“Low provincial funding results in low wages. It’s not surprising that many staff are leaving to take better paying jobs that don’t have the kind of hours and stress related to community care,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.

Dear Premier Ford and Deputy Premier Jones,

On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of healthcare workers we represent in the province of Ontario, our five unions are requesting an urgent joint-meeting to discuss the ongoing healthcare and staffing crisis.

WINNIPEG– Unionized care workers at Association for Community Living (ACL) will hold a rally to raise awareness about the extreme financial hardships facing ACL workers.

TORONTO—The Ontario Ministry of Health proposal to amend the Ambulance Act to employ nurses, physicians and respiratory therapists, along with paramedics for Ornge air flight ambulances will not improve patient outcomes in the province.

WINNIPEG—The Manitoba government’s refusal to fund a living wage at the Association for Community Living (ACL) has resulted in Unifor Local 468 members rejecting the employer’s latest contract offer.

“During the pandemic the Stefanson government was quick to call health care workers heroes, but at the bargaining table its totally different tone,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Offering health care workers one dollar above minimum wage will not cut it. Health care workers deserve a living wage.”

Unifor members attended the inaugural International Black Health Conference in Halifax, N.S. to discuss strategies for improving access to health care in Black communities across Canada. 

TORONTO— Members at the Extendicare group of nursing homes across Ontario ratified 10 new collective agreements with precedent-setting improvements including a pilot project to move the entire workforce to full-time. 

HALIFAX-Health Support workers have ratified a new collective agreement with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the IWK, with the largest increases for the lowest-paid workers whose wage scales will now reach $20 per hour.