The local coordinator of the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) says a recent provincially arbitrated award for hospital RNs is insulting and disrespectful.
Registered nurse and ONA Local 19 Coordinator Emily Webb said hospital RNs were awarded a one per cent wage increase due to the constraints of Bill 124, which the Ford Tories put in place in November 2019.
"Which means those covered under that act are restricted to a one per cent wage increase, which is far below the rate of inflation. And this bill takes away their ability to freely negotiate a fair contract, which includes the ability to negotiate a fair wage increase."
Registered Nurse and ONA Local 19 Coordinator Emily Webb (BlackburnNews.com file photo)
Webb said a lot of RNs covered by the award are really not happy.
"It's insulting and disrespectful, really to say the least. RNs in the hospital sector has not seen an increase in pay that keeps us with inflation since about 2010. Yet our male-dominated professions, say police or firefighters, they are not covered under this bill and are able to freely negotiate wages greater than two per cent."
She added that the need for quality care has never been more evident during these past few months with the current pandemic.
"Definitely through the last few months, we've heard a lot in social media and on the news about nurses and frontline workers being hailed as heroes, however, I think actions speak louder than words. It's time for the government to recognize RNs and stop forcing RNs to lose financial ground every year," she said. "I believe with the recent events, such as the pandemic and now with this award, it's kind of like an awakening that's taken place and a fire's been lit under our nurses, and they're super mad, they're speaking up and they want respect."
Webb said instead of the province spending taxpayers' money to fight ONA in court, the funds should go towards providing a fair and equitable increase to those on the front line.
Webb said ONA has been working hard behind the scene, fighting for RNs, and that they launched a charter challenge earlier this year against Bill 124, along with social media campaigns.
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