Skip to content

Nurses union displeased with arbitrated contract

ONA president says government and employers 'disrespect' female-dominated professionals.
nurse
(file photo)

TORONTO — The Ontario Nurses Association says it is disappointed that the province's hospital-sector registered nurses and health-care professionals will receive just one per cent wage increases this year and next year.

The arbitrated contract provides for a one per cent hike retroactive to April 1, 2020 and a further one per cent increase at the end of the one-year contract on April 1, 2021.

In a statement Tuesday, the ONA said its members have suffered under austerity measures implemented by successive governments for more than a decade, with pay increases less than the rate of inflation for many consecutive years.

"They have worked long, very difficult hours throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and hundreds have been infected with the coronavirus due to a lack of personal protective equipment," the statement said.

More details about the arbitrator's decision will be made available later this week.

ONA President Vicki McKenna said that due to the provincial government's wage suppression legislation (Bill 124 - Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations), RNs are falling farther behind with a wage increase below inflation and less than increases received by their male comparators.

"RNs continue to be the backbone of our health-care system...Yet at the bargaining table, employers and government continue to undervalue and disrespect our female-dominated professionals," McKenna said. "This is unacceptable."

 

 


Comments

Verified reader

If you would like to apply to become a verified commenter, please fill out this form.