Unifor members from across Ontario working in long-term care and retirement homes gathered this week in Toronto to prepare for upcoming bargaining, share strategies, identifying priorities, and strengthening coordination across the province.
Held April 7–9 at the Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport, the conference brought together local union leaders, bargaining committee members, and staff to assess the current economic and bargaining climate and to chart a path forward for workers in the province’s care sectors.
HALIFAX- Unifor members at Parkland Truro, Parkland Cape Breton, and Martha’s Place Antigonish retirement homes in Nova Scotia will be in a legal strike position as of April 16, after a no board report was issued by the Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration on Tuesday.
“Workers have spoken clearly, they need a deal that reflects the value of their work and keeps pace with standards in long-term care,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Unifor stands firmly behind these members as they fight for the respect and compensation they deserve.”
LONDON—Unifor is raising concerns about staffing changes at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and warns that that the restructuring will further intensify pressure on health care workers across the system.
The hospital has confirmed significant staffing changes, including the elimination of hundreds of positions through attrition.
Unifor is calling on a mediator to help address key outstanding issues as bargaining continues for nearly 2,000 hospital workers across northern Ontario, with a focus on achieving stability and respect for frontline care.
“This round of bargaining is about fairness, and our hospital workers deserve so much more,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Workers doing the same jobs, in the same hospitals, should not be paid differently or have access to different benefits—our members are feeling utterly disrespected.”
HALIFAX—Unifor is demanding the Nova Scotia government reverse budget cuts recently announced that will reduce staffing at all 100 nursing homes in the province by 3% this year, followed by additional cuts of 3% in each of the next three years.
Nearly 125 Unifor members at Community Living Dryden–Sioux Lookout have ratified new collective agreements that improve care and provide significant improvements to wages, benefits and working conditions.
This month, Unifor heads to the bargaining table on behalf of nearly 2,000 hospital workers across north-eastern and north-western Ontario, with a strong mandate to strengthen wages, improve working conditions and recognize the essential work performed by frontline health care staff.
“This round of bargaining is about making sure the people who keep northern hospitals running are treated with the respect they deserve,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
