The union representing over 325 local healthcare workers is taking part in a province-wide rally on Monday as the fight continues to get pandemic pay for all.
OPSEU Local 145 represents a wide range of workers including respiratory therapists, MRI technologists, laboratory technologists, speech-language pathologists, physiotherapists, and social workers.
Local Union Vice President June Weiss said 95 per cent of them haven't received any pandemic premium over the past few months because the province has claimed there isn't enough money to go around.
A healthcare worker rallying for pandemic pay - July 20/20 (Photo courtesy of June Weiss)
"The Ford government really has ignored and disrespected us, and that's how a lot of our members feel," said Weiss. "Before a second wave, we're demanding key improvements to our health and safety, respect for our rights in regards to our collective agreement, and respect for the work that we do to help keep everyone in Ontario safe."
Weiss said they're also protesting Bill 195 which the union claims would override worker rights in areas like vacations, hours of work, and possible contracting out all the way until next July.
"Without us, no diagnosis can happen, no COVID-19 tests would be processed, no blood drawn, no therapies to aid recovery, no treatment, no intubation, no social work support, no medications distributed and much, much more. Our members are tired and fed up, we've risked the health and safety of ourselves and our families."
The government said the bill will allow it to remain flexible by allowing frontline staff to be redeployed to long-term care or retirement homes, and allow public health to redeploy staff to work in areas such as contact tracing.
Monday's rally is scheduled from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on the sidewalk around Bluewater Health.
