Banner idea: Members seek candidates’ support
Windsor West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky (second from left) holds a banner of signatures delivered by members of ONA8 during our petition banner action in the lead-up to the provincial election in February.
Windsor West NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky (second from left) holds a banner of signatures delivered by members of ONA8 during our petition banner action in the lead-up to the provincial election in February.
ONA members left no stone unturned during the recent provincial election.
In February, just prior to election day, they delivered petition banners containing thousands of signatures to candidates in 26 locations, reiterating our call for RN-to-patient staffing ratios. The intent was to get these candidates to support nursing ratios and join us in calling on hospital CEOs to mandate them in our next hospital contract, so Ontarians can get the care they need and deserve.
“[This action] gave us a chance to speak to our fellow ONA members about the actions we are taking collectively to fight for safe nursing ratios,” explains St. Mary’s General Hospital Bargaining Unit President Stephanie Hamill.
St. Mary’s General Hospital Bargaining Unit President Stephanie Hammill, one of our Nurses Vote secondees, gives an enthusiastic fist pump at a recent event outside her hospital.
“It was helpful at determining the strength of our Bargaining Unit and gave us an opportunity to talk to the candidates and hear about how they value the work we do as nurses and health-care workers, and how they recognize and appreciate what our demand is for safe nursing ratios. ONA members are applying pressure across the board, from CEOs of individual hospitals to government officials locally, and at Queen’s Park.”
I know that alone, it’s very difficult to facilitate change, but together we have so much more power.
Implementing RN staffing ratios means mandating a minimum number of nurses needed to safely care for patients, depending on the unit. Nursing ratios are the number one bargaining demand for ONA’s 60,000 hospital members in this round of contact negotiations.
“Political action is one of my favourite things to participate in,” Hamill notes. “I have seen how unions across the world have won significant gains by organizing and mobilizing together to build unity and fight hard for improvements. I know that alone, it is very difficult to facilitate change, but together we have so much more power – the kind of power that employers and governments need to listen and pay attention to. Working together on shared issues and values is critical to our future bargaining power. Seeing other members in my Bargaining Unit willing to take action on key issues was inspiring.”
She adds that she hopes all decision-makers understand that ONA members are not willing to accept their concessions and ongoing worsening of working conditions, and will protect the public by fighting to make sure the safe, quality care they deserve is there when they need it.
“I hope to see more ONA members engaged in our actions across sectors,” she urges. “We all need to stand strong together regardless of whether we work in long-term care, hospitals, community, public health or other sectors. Together, we can make a difference for the people of Ontario and our profession. No sector should be left behind! We are building a political action network across the province.”
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