Health Care

HALIFAX—Public pressure from Unifor members who rallied and submitted nearly 1,000 letters to Nova Scotia MLAs were successful in getting the Houston government to deliver a financial mandate so bargaining could begin across long-term care units.

NORFOLK COUNTY, ON –Unifor is calling on the Norfolk General Hospital (NGH) Board of Directors to intervene in stalled contract negotiations and direct the employer to return to the table with a fair and reasonable mandate consistent with arbitration outcomes across Ontario’s hospital sector.

Mr. John Collin
City Manager, City of Thunder Bay

Dear Mr. Collin,

RE: Superior North EMS District Paramedics – Negotiations and Staffing Crisis

I am writing on behalf of Unifor to express our deep concern regarding the state of negotiations for the Superior North EMS District Unit and to urge the City of Thunder Bay to deliver a renewed mandate that will allow a fair and responsible settlement to be reached before the November 26 strike deadline.

Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray and Health Care Director Kellee Janzen stood shoulder-to-shoulder with long-term care workers and supporters outside Minister Barbara Adams’ office to demand an end to delays preventing workers from bargaining.

As Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care in a supermajority government that ran on their promise to “fix health care” in Nova Scotia, advocates say waiting two years for a mandate to bargain is unacceptable.

HALIFAX-Long-term care unions will rally outside Nova Scotia Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care Barbara Adams’ constituency office calling on the Houston government to deliver a financial mandate required for collective bargaining to begin. 

This protest comes two years after the workers' last contract expired.

Unifor long-term care members stood side-by-side with union members from across Nova Scotia outside Premier Tim Houston’s constituency office Westville, N.S., to demand his government begin negotiations, two years after their collective agreement expired.

“Tim Houston was elected because of his promise to improve working conditions for health care workers, which in turn improves the care every Nova Scotian receives, but he has yet to deliver a financial mandate for the long-term care sector,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. 

Unifor members working in health care and social services gathered in Port Elgin for the 2025 Health Care/Social Services Conference under the theme Refresh, Reconnect, Refocus.

The conference, held Oct. 3 to 5, brought together front-line workers from across the country to share strategies, strengthen solidarity, and renew their commitment to fighting for better working conditions and a stronger public health care system.

Unifor National President, Lana Payne opened the conference with an urgent call to action to protect both workers and Canada’s public system.

TILBURY, Ont.— Unifor members at Hudson Manor Retirement Residence will hold an information picket tomorrow to demand the employer return to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair collective agreement.

The Unifor Local 1941 members have been working without a new contract for almost two years, 20 months, with many members earning as little as $18.50 per hour. 

Unifor Local 8300 members working in environmental, housekeeping and laundry services at Compass Group for the Hillel Lodge long-term care facility in Ottawa have ratified their first collective agreement. Members will see substantial wage increases as well as an additional statutory holiday in this two-year agreement.