Retirement is a time to celebrate the many contributions to your profession throughout your career. At ONA, becoming a retiree is also a time of new opportunities, including becoming a retiree member.
Learn more about becoming an ONA retiree member and the benefits and opportunities of staying connected to your union. You have an important part to play in our next chapter!
Become a Retiree Member
There is no cost to becoming an ONA retiree member.
Complete our Retiree Membership Application online, or download and complete the PDF application and submit it to our Dues and Membership team by email at MemberChanges@ona.org or mail (85 Grenville St., Toronto, ON. M5S 3A2.) You only need to apply once with no renewals necessary.
According to ONA’s Constitution, to be eligible for membership, you must have been a member with entitlements prior to retirement or in receipt from a long-term disability program or worker’s compensation.
Your contact information will be collected and stored in accordance with our Privacy Policy, and shared with those coordinating ONA communications for ONA Retirees.
Benefits of Becoming a Retired ONA Member
Becoming a retired ONA member offers many benefits. Retired members can participate in various benefit programs of the Union, participate in local and provincial meetings, and receive our Front Lines publication.
ONA’s Retiree Network
Becoming an ONA retiree means you will also be a part of our new ONA Retiree Network, when it launches later in 2024. We are launching a Retiree Network for two important reasons:
- Many of our members, leaders and Board members still have a passion for their union, for advocacy, and for their profession after they retire. We heard from many retiring members that they want to stay connected and keep fighting for the issues they – and we – all care about.
- Your experience as a health-care professional and as an ONA member is an important part of ONA’s voice. With your voice, we are a stronger union!
Being a part of this network will offer you an opportunity to connect with other ONA retirees and members and join actions that matter to you. We hope that, through our network, you can continue to lend your voice in activities such as rallies and phone banks. We also hope to offer virtual information sessions about the things that matter to you.
Retiree Network Advisory Team (RNAT)
In order to support our Retiree Network, the Board passed a motion at its December 2023 meeting to create a Retiree Network Advisory Team (RNAT).
The team will include ONA Board members and an ONA Retiree Member from each of our five regions, and will be supported by ONA staff.
What will the team do?
Key components of this team’s mandate include:
- Promoting membership and growth of ONA retiree members within their community.
- Supporting retired ONA members to stay connected with their union and health-care profession, and to keep informed about the labour and professional issues that matter to them.
- Identifying and organizing opportunities for retired ONA members to stay engaged in community ONA-sponsored activities and actions.
- Engaging and networking with ONA retirees from their communities in local ONA initiatives.
- Hosting provincial networking opportunities virtually, related to ONA’s strategic plan initiatives and/or topics of a professional or personal interest, where the opportunity arises.
How can I join?
Team members will be selected via an Expression of Interest process that will be launched in the spring of this year. We will be sure to let you know directly when the application process is open.
Check back in Spring 2024 for the full RNAT team mandate and Expression of Interest Form!
Retiree Network Advisory Team (RNAT)
In order to support our Retiree Network, the Board passed a motion at its December 2023 meeting to create a Retiree Network Advisory Team (RNAT).
The team will include ONA Board members and an ONA Retiree Member from each of our five regions, and will be supported by ONA staff.
What will the team do?
Key components of this team’s mandate include:
- Promoting membership and growth of ONA retiree members within their community.
- Supporting retired ONA members to stay connected with their union and health-care profession, and to keep informed about the labour and professional issues that matter to them.
- Identifying and organizing opportunities for retired ONA members to stay engaged in community ONA-sponsored activities and actions.
- Engaging and networking with ONA retirees from their communities in local ONA initiatives.
- Hosting provincial networking opportunities virtually, related to ONA’s strategic plan initiatives and/or topics of a professional or personal interest, where the opportunity arises.
How can I join?
Eligible candidates must be a Retired Member as per the Constitution.
Team members will be selected via an Expression of Interest process.
You can apply online using our web form, or download the PDF version and submit your completed form to EOIForms@ona.org. Completed forms must be submitted by Friday, May 31, 2024.
Voluntary Retiree Benefits
Becoming an ONA retiree member also offers voluntary retiree benefits with the flexibility to choose the coverage you need to help protect your health and well-being. This includes extended health and dental, optional hospital and out-of-country travel insurance. For more information on how voluntary retiree benefits can serve you best, contact belairdirect (formerly Johnson Insurance) at 1-800-461-4155 or www.johnson.ca/ona. Questions regarding the program can be directed to belairdirect at 1-800-461-4155 (toll-free).
There is a 60-day open enrolment available to retiring members for extended health and dental coverage. Members can enroll in the ONA sponsored plan without providing evidence of good health. However, you must apply within 60 days of the loss of coverage from your employer due to retirement, and you must have been actively at work on the day you lost your coverage.
For those members in the hospital sector, Article 17.01 i) of the central hospital collective agreement states, “The Hospital will provide to all full-time employees who reach age 57 and retire (including disability retirements) on or after April 1, 2011 and have not yet reached age 65 and who are in receipt of the Hospital’s pension plan benefits, semi-private, extended health care and dental benefits on the same basis as is provided to active employees as long as the retiree pays the Employer their share of the monthly premiums, in advance. The Hospital will contribute fifty percent (50%) of the billed premiums of these benefit plans.”
The Congress of Union Retirees of Canada
You are now eligible to join the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC). Formed in 1993, the CURC unites retirees from affiliates of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). You can find out about CURC campaigns and read position papers and newsletters at the CURC website http://unionretiree.ca/.
If you are interested in joining the CURC, visit the website and click on the “Join Us” button. The annual membership cost is $25.
