MEDIA ADVISORY: The Ottawa Hospital Nurses to Rally at Merrilee Fullerton’s Office Tomorrow, Call on Government to Repeal Bills 124, 195

KANATA (August 19, 2020) – Front-line registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses and health-care professionals will rally at Ontario Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton’s constituency office tomorrow, continuing the fight to repeal Bills 124 and 195.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) members say both bills interfere with the rights of front-line health-care workers and Bill 124 in particular discriminates against female-dominated professions and interferes with the right to freely collectively bargain, in breach of their Charter rights.

Recently, in a decision for hospital-sector nurses and health-care professionals, an arbitrator noted that his hands were tied by the bill when it came to determining monetary issues for these front-line workers. Bill 124 limits wage increases to a maximum increase of one per cent in total compensation each year for three years. Bill 195 enables the Ford government to maintain a state of emergency and override the collective agreements and rights of the workers.

ONA is the union representing more than 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

WHAT:    Protest by nurses and health-care professionals to repeal Bills 124, 195

WHEN:    Thursday, August 20, 2020 from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

WHERE:  Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton’s office, 240 Michael Cowpland Dr., Kanata

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For more information:

Sandy McEwen: 613-325-1009