Ontario’s 60,000 front-line hospital nurses and health-care professionals – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association – are negotiating a new contract with their employers, the Ontario Hospital Association.

By supporting a better contract for hospital nurses, we can help ensure all Ontarians get the care they need and deserve. That’s why ONA members across the province are taking collective action in their workplaces and communities to support these priorities. Investing in nurses is the best way to improve access to timely, safe, and quality hospital care. It’s time to value nurses and the patients they care for.

ONA’s elected bargaining team is putting forward a large number of demands based on feedback from thousands of ONA members who filled out our bargaining survey. Your bargaining team is pushing hard because they know firsthand what’s at stake.

Our bargaining priorities:

Send a Message to the Ontario Government

Sign on to our email campaign and tell your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Premier Doug Ford, and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones that you support a better deal for Ontario’s nurses.

Call Your MPP – Support a Better Deal for Nurses

Use Leadnow’s easy click-to-call tool to phone your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and demand that they support a better deal for Ontario’s nurses.

Community Day of Action for Better Care – Sunday, April 23

On Sunday, April 23, ONA members across Ontario are holding a Community Day of Action for Better Care. We know that hospital patients aren’t getting the care they need, as wage caps and understaffing drive nurses and health-care professionals away.

We’re calling on all Ontarians to join us in demanding that hospital CEOs settle a fair contract that means better care for all now.

Time’s Up: Better Care Now! – Wednesday, April 5

As we face the implications of yet another disappointing provincial budget, nurses and health-care professionals know we can’t give up the fight for public health care.

We know that better staffing and wages are integral to our ability to provide patients with the quality care they need. That’s why we continue to plan actions leading up to our arbitration dates scheduled during the first week of May.

Join hospital nurses and health-care professionals in our next direct action on April 5 at 10:45 a.m. at the southeast corner of College and University Ave (Toronto.) Wear scrubs and dress for the weather (hats, gloves, etc.)!

All-Out Shut Down Protest – Thursday, March 2

All-Out Pickets – Thursday, February 23

On February 23, ONA members and allies joined all-out picket actions in communities across the province.

These pickets, held outside hospitals and Conservative MPPs’ offices, showed our unified voice and commitment to achieving a fair deal for Ontario’s nurses.

Sticker Up on February 2!

On February 2, ONA members across the province wore stickers in their workplaces to show solidarity and support for our key bargaining priorities: Better Staffing, Better Wages and Better Care.

The aim of this Sticker Up was to show a unified front, start discussions and and build momentum and support in our communities, as we escalate into bigger collective actions like pickets.

Template Letters

Let’s achieve our goals – you have a voice.

ONA is making it easy for you to speak up and strengthen our pursuit of better wages, better staffing and better care. Below you will find a template letter to the editor that you can use and send to your local newspaper. If you need help with sending the letter to your local paper, email us at onamail@ona.org. There is also a template letter to the hospital CEO calling for support for a better deal for nurses.

Please take a few moments to add any pertinent detail to the template letters and send them. We must remain united and speak with one strong voice.

Memo: “Hospital Central Negotiating Team (NHCNT) Update” (May 12, 2023)

Media Release: “Nurses, Health-Care Professionals Say Time’s Up, Take Direct Action for Better Care Now” (April 5, 2023)

Media Release: “Contract Talks Break Down for Hospital RNs, Health-Care Professionals, says Ontario Nurses’ Association” (March 3, 2023)

Memo: “Hospital Central Negotiating Team (NHCNT) Update” (March 2, 2023)

Media Release: “Nurses and Supporters Hold Mass Rally for Better Staffing, Better Wages and Better Care as Hospital Contract Negotiations Wrap Up” (March 2, 2023)

Media Release: “Ontario Nurses’ Association Enters into Mediation – Last chance to reach a negotiated contract for hospital nurses, health-care professionals” (March 1, 2023)

Media Release: “Thousands of Ontario Nurses and Supporters Picket For Better Staffing, Better Wages, Better Care” (February 23, 2023)

Media Advisory: “Nurses Province-Wide to Picket for Better Staffing, Better Wages, Better Care” (February 22, 2023)

Memo: “Hospital Central Negotiating Team (NHCNT) Update” (February 3, 2023)

Media Statement: “Ontario Nurses Wear Their Support for Their Hospital Contract Bargaining Team” (February 2, 2023)

Media Release: “Ontario Hospital Nurses Begin Contract Talks Determined to Achieve Better Pay, Better Staffing and Better Patient Care” (January 30, 2023)

Memo: “Hospital Central Negotiating Team (NHCNT) Update” (January 26, 2023)(PDF)

Bargaining 101 – 2023 Hospital Central Negotiations

Myriad of problems must be addressed at the bargaining table, says Chief Negotiator

Spilling the Tea about Hospital Bargaining “We are ready for the proverbial fight”

Central and Local Bargaining – What are the differences?

Frequently Asked Questions

Speak out on social media!

Show your support for a better deal for Ontario nurses and better care for Ontarians. Select a shareable below to download.

Use the hashtag #SupportNurses and join the conversation online!

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Handheld Signs

Download an e-copy of our assorted handheld sign designs, or order printed signs using the form below.