VON bargaining: We’re treated like “second-class professionals”

And that reality isn’t pretty.  

“Home care nurses are treated like second class professionals,” says VON member Lindsay (we’re using first-name pseudonyms in this story to keep members anonymous). “We make $10 to $20/hour less than nurses in hospitals. We service rural areas, drive on poorly maintained country roads in all weather conditions and often without cellular service. We don’t have an alert system in place or assistance to call for help. Working in isolation has left me feeling burnt out, stressed and often anxious. Most of my energy is consumed by work.”

Bargaining 

These deplorable working conditions have driven every step of our VON provincial negotiations this round, starting with our demand-setting meeting in November 2024 and subsequent meeting last March, where members in this sector voted on the bargaining objectives our VON Provincial Negotiating Team brought to the table. Those objectives included full compensation for all the work, time and costs incurred in the provision of care, improved mileage, premiums and benefits.    

While those negotiations began last September with the VON Canada-Ontario branch and continued for two days in November, they didn’t result in a settlement the team could recommend to members. The employer also wouldn’t agree to voluntary arbitration.  

“The employer came to the table unprepared to provide a fulsome and fair response to the team’s proposals, and despite an additional $1 billion in government funding for this sector since bargaining began, their monetary response fell far below the team’s expectations,” says Provincial President Erin Ariss. “The VON continues to hire agency staff rather than improve compensation that would retain and recruit. It’s appalling.” 

And so, as we prepare for conciliation at the end of March, we will stay the course and not back down. Read bargaining updates here. 

Our VON provincial bargaining campaign, which launched last spring with the slogan Pay Fair for Home Care, is continuing to highlight how essential these members are to our health-care system. In fact, statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information show that in 2020, more than 82 per cent of home care recipients in Ontario said that the specialized care they received helped them stay at home, instead of in overflowing hospitals and long-term care facilities.  

ONA’s dedicated webpage also contains a plethora of resources, information and shareables, along with a template letter to the VON Board of Directors that we encourage all members to sign demanding they negotiate a fair new contract so Ontarians can get the home care they need and deserve.  

Since our bargaining campaign began, members have participated in a number of actions to raise public awareness. That includes a large rally at Queen’s Park with our labour and community allies, a media conference to spell out the severe challenges members in this sector face, which impact their clients, and a phone zap where 180 calls were placed in 30 minutes to elected officials and the VON Board of Directors. Check our VON provincial bargaining webpage often for upcoming actions.  

Many powerful and often heartbreaking testimonials that we gathered from our VON members were also read in the Legislature by the official opposition.  

Lowest paid 

Those testimonials paint a grim picture.  

They tell of VON members struggling to make ends meet because their real wages declined 8 per cent over the COVID pandemic, 14 per cent over the past decade and 16 per cent since they peaked in 2009. With cost of living soaring, the decrease in real wages is even more deeply felt.  

VON home care RNs are also among the lowest paid in the province. Along with that, they pay out-of-pocket for gas and don’t receive added pay for working weekends, late nights or holidays.

“The cost of living is at an all time high and that’s why I’m fighting for wages that reflect this reality,” says VON member Nadine. “VON members should be paid the same as RNs in other health-care settings.” 

Her fellow VON member Jennifer concurs, noting that as a recent nursing graduate, who accumulated $10,000 in student loads, “that debt, along with the low salary in home care makes it difficult to finance even the basics, such as food.” 

Unsafe 

Despite the fact our VON members make assessments, coordinate clients’ care needs, deliver care as needed and go from home to home, visiting people exactly where they need help, the depth of their work is not well known or understood.  

“I was always taught – and many people believe – that home care nurses are less skilled and don’t practice real nursing,” says VON member Jasmine. “Not only do I practice real nursing every shift, I do it alone. I can't shout down the hall for my coworker to help when things go wrong.” 

For member Priya, that is a real concern as well. “As a VON RN working in the community, I’m faced with greater challenges like working alone, driving my own vehicle, and being in an unsafe environment.” 

That often includes remote areas, where cell phone service can be unreliable or completely non-existent, meaning if these members run into difficulties, such as inclement weather or dangerous situations, they can’t call for help. And tragically, those dangerous situations are far too common. 

In fact, statistics from the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board in 2023 and 2024, show that home care workers, including VON members, experienced the highest number of workplace violence claims at almost 2,200 – five times the amount of those in the hospital sector. 

But we also know that violent incidents are grossly under-reported.  

Exodus 

Along with that, because home care RNs are often scheduled and expected to see clients back-to-back, even though those clients may live hours apart, long shifts and burnout are a significant issue. 

“I was a full-time VON visiting RN for over seven years,” notes member Ardele. “I loved my job and the ability that home care nursing gave me to actually connect with my clients on a personal level. But my eight-hour shifts turned into 10 hours shifts and then over the pandemic they were creeping up to 12 hour shifts. It got to the point where I wasn’t making it home in time to say goodnight to my kids. I miss my full-time VON position all the time, but it wasn’t worth jeopardizing my health, family or life over.”   

While the home care sector has unfortunately already lost her, many others are contemplating doing the same.  

“When I switched from RPN to RN with VON, I was offered less money compared to what I was making as an RPN,” says member Kelly. “At VON, I’m working longer hours for less pay and less take home money. I enjoy working in the community, but it's hard to stay without being paid a fair wage.” 

Adds Desiree, “I have been a VON nurse for over 10 years now. I absolutely love the job itself and my patients in my little town. But my salary has not kept up with the costs associated with me doing my job. I’m a single mom and am going to have to seek a new job because VON doesn’t pay nearly enough for the amount of work I do.” 

This exodus is even more alarming considering that Home Care Ontario reports that the province's aging population is expected to grow by more 650,000 over the next six years. Unless the VON Board of Directors negotiates fair wages and improved benefits, there won’t be enough staff to provide the home care services our province needs.  

And as Terry, who has worked at VON for more than 25 years asks, “what will happen to my clients if I leave?”   

All in 

That’s not a burden our members should have to bear, and it’s going to take all hands on deck to turn this situation around.  

“VON members are fighting back, determined to win wage parity and improved benefits,” concludes Ariss. “They’re fighting so Ontarians can access high-quality and timely care at home when they need it. And they won’t be silenced until their demands are met. 

“After all, when one of us wins, we all win. Gains achieved in one collective agreement spread to more and more until they become commonplace. Our VON members are in the fight of their lives, and they need the help of each and every one of us. Are you in?” 

Learn more here.