Nurses and health-care professionals at the North York Family Health Team (NYFHT) are heading into conciliation this week in an effort to secure their first collective agreement. The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), representing the 55 employees, is pushing for higher wages, job security, and improved working conditions.
The bargaining sessions, set for February 19 and 20, come as NYFHT staff, who provide primary and preventative care to approximately 100,000 North York residents, argue they are underpaid compared to their counterparts in hospital-based Family Health Teams.
“These 55 skilled and dedicated nurses and health-care professionals are seeking fair wages, job security, and accountability from their Board of Directors,” said ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss, RN. “This is the only way to recruit and retain staff so that patients can get the high-quality care they need.”
NYFHT employees include nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, dietitians, social workers, pharmacists, chiropodists, data managers, clinical coordinators, physician assistants, and resource navigators. Their work helps reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments by providing front-line care in the community.
Ariss also pointed to provincial funding as a key issue, stating that without increased investment, primary care services will struggle to retain staff. “The Ford Conservatives keep promising to improve primary care, and yet they have consistently underfunded it. Without fair wages, health-care workers can’t afford to stay, and patients won’t get the care they need,” she said.
The ONA represents more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, across hospitals, long-term care homes, public health units, community clinics, and other health-care settings.
Conciliation is a standard step in the collective bargaining process, with a government-appointed conciliator assisting both sides in reaching an agreement. If talks fail, the union could move toward job action, including the possibility of a strike or lockout.
