Hundreds of nurses rallied at Queen’s Park Tuesday demanding better wages for home care workers as contract negotiations with the Victorian Order of Nurses approach.
The demonstration, organized by the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), saw health-care professionals chanting “Pay fair for home care” while urging both the provincial government and VON management to increase funding.
“We have a clear message for the Ford government and bosses at the Victorian Order of Nurses. Step up and provide better funding and fair wages in this new collective agreement, or there won’t be any home-care nurses to provide Ontarians with the care they need,” said ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss.
Home care registered nurses face significant workplace challenges while receiving the lowest compensation in the health care sector, according to the union. These nurses travel independently to patients’ homes, often encounter violence, and provide complex medical care in isolated settings.
Staffing concerns
Ariss warned that inadequate compensation is driving qualified professionals away from home care services.
“Ontario patients cannot afford to lose more nurses from VON, but they are being forced to leave their jobs for better-paying, safer work,” said Ariss.
The union emphasized that home care nurses provide essential services including medication administration, wound care, family education, and treatment for chronic conditions. These services allow patients to remain at home, reducing hospitalization costs.
Non-profit services at risk
As one of the few remaining non-profit home care providers in Ontario, VON requires stable funding to maintain service quality, the union stated. The ONA contrasted this with for-profit providers which they claim prioritize earnings over patient outcomes.
The rally comes as VON nurses prepare for upcoming contract negotiations. Ariss delivered a stern message to both the government and employer: “Our VON nurses have the support and might of ONA members behind them in this round of negotiations. The bosses at VON and the Ford government should remember that when you pick a fight with any of us, you’ll face us all.”
The ONA represents more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals across Ontario, along with 18,000 nursing student affiliates.
