Unifor expects to achieve the wage increases and benefit improvements awarded to Ontario OCHU-CUPE and SEIU Healthcare members by Arbitrator William Kaplan in a recent decision. Unifor congratulates OCHU-CUPE and SEIU Healthcare on this award as all three unions hold firm to their Solidarity Pact to bargain collaboratively and plans to achieve a similar outcome for Unifor health care workers in Ontario.
Unifor health care members expect the same increases that have been awarded to other unionized workers, according to Unifor National President Lana Payne. Every person in the province needs access to quality, public health care, and supporting workers with respectable pay and working conditions is essential for achieving that goal. Unifor’s Northern Group, including 15 acute care units from Locals 229 and 1359 in Northern Ontario, began negotiations on February 13, 2024, and will be in mediation on May 4. The bargaining committee is encouraged by the news of the 6% wage gains and other improvements awarded to OCHU-CUPE and SEIU.
These three influential health care unions are championing a 10-point Solidarity Pact, not just as a symbol, but as a powerful framework to save public health care with improvements to worker pay, as stated by Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. They are working towards preventing publicly funded health care from being under constant threat and ensuring it is not exploited for profit. Learn more about Unifor’s mission to restore public health care in Ontario for the benefit of everyone at savehealthcare.ca.
Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, representing 315,000 workers in various industries. The union advocates for workers’ rights, fights for equality and social justice, and aims to create progressive change for a better future.