ONA advocacy secures 14 new positions at OHaH
ONA member Dianne Leclair, who works at the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Ontario Health atHome, says that “ONA is the strongest union for nurses and health-care professionals.”
ONA member Dianne Leclair, who works at the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Ontario Health atHome, says that “ONA is the strongest union for nurses and health-care professionals.”
ONA members at the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Ontario Health atHome (OHaH) are praising a recent significant achievement: 14 new positions have been added across key areas, thanks to the strategic use of ONA’s professional responsibility clause (PRC).
ONA member Dianne Leclair, RN, who has worked at OHaH for more than 28 years, called this important win a meaningful step forward.
ONA’s professional responsibility clause works. We were able to show the employer exactly where the gaps were.
“ONA’s professional responsibility clause works,” she says. “We were able to show the employer exactly where the gaps were. Management listened, and these jobs went to the areas that needed them most. It took time, but it was a real win for staff and for our patients and clients.”
As OHaH transitions from 14 regional entities into one huge system, staff have faced an overwhelming pace of change.
“The amount of change introduced to staff has been extreme,” notes Leclair. “Over the past year alone, more than 120 new policies and procedures were introduced, and this is on top of our increasingly complex patient needs and growing documentation requirements.
“Our workload is the biggest issue. No one can keep up with the volume of change.”
ONA’s professional responsibility clause, along with additional supports, including a provincial campaign challenging the Ford government’s demand for Ontario Public Service employees to return to office, are proof that ONA members don’t back down.
ONA members remain steadfast in fighting for each other and standing up for their rights amidst these continual and overwhelming challenges.
Leclair encourages all members to stay informed and participate in decision-making leading up to the Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act (PSLRTA) campaign.
“You need to vote, have your voice heard and make an informed choice. When you look at the facts, ONA is the strongest union for nurses and health-care professionals: in the services we offer, our structure, and our proven bargaining power and wins.”
ONA fights every day for our Ontario Health atHome members, including these dedicated ones from the Markham location.
Leclair highlights four main reasons ONA stands apart from other unions:
We understand the full scope of the system — from hospitals and long-term care to home care, primary care and community. We empower members at every level, ensuring your voices are heard and your rights defended across the entire health-care system. We’re run by nurses and health-care professionals for nurses and health-care professionals.
We are our members. Through town halls, outreach initiatives and new ways of gathering feedback, grassroots members define the decisions that affect your workplaces. This is especially crucial as sectors negotiate first collective agreements and assert bargaining rights.
ONA doesn’t wait for challenges — we anticipate them. By staying ahead of regulatory changes and understanding the direction of the College of Nurses of Ontario and other regulatory bodies, we protect our members before issues arise, ensuring your rights, safety and professional standards are defended at every step.
ONA doesn’t just advocate, we equip. Through our Legal Expense Assistance Plan (LEAP) programs, regulatory support, insurance and tailored professional resources, we arm our members with the tools, guidance and protection they need to stand strong and defend their profession.
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