The Ontario Nurses’ Association returns to the bargaining table on Nov. 13 with the Victoria Order of Nurses with new leverage: $1 billion in provincial funding announced since the previous round of talks in September.
The union says registered nurses working in home care are the lowest-paid nurses in Ontario despite facing high rates of workplace violence and difficult working conditions. ONA represents more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals across the province.
Wages down 14 per cent in real terms
VON nurses have seen their real wages drop 14 per cent over the past decade, according to ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss. She said nurses are not always compensated for all their time or expenses.
“This new funding means these nurses can and should be fully compensated for their time and expenses incurred for the work they do,” Ariss said.
Recruitment and retention challenges
Lorna Thompson, chair of the ONA VON bargaining team, said many home care nurses have taken second jobs or relied on food banks. She said the staffing problems are pushing experienced nurses to leave for better-paying positions elsewhere.
“There is no longer any excuse for the VON to not step up and recognize the high-quality, high-value work we are doing to care for people at home,” Thompson said. “Respectful wages will help stem the tide of RNs who are leaving home-care work.”
The union expects VON to come prepared to reach an agreement in the current round of negotiations.
