Joyce Lusunike

SEIU Healthcare organized a rally at Southlake Regional Hospital in Newmarket and invited the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) to express our solidarity on this matter. Our message was loud and clear; we need to put a stop to workplace violence.

SEIU Healthcare is demanding immediate action by Southlake Regional Hospital, including a meeting with key stakeholders, after a registered practical nurse (RPN) was attacked Thursday evening by a patient, just six days after another nurse suffered severe workplace injuries.

On Tuesday, October 6, SEIU Healthcare organized a rally outside of Michael Garron Hospital to stand in solidarity against racism. Over the past several months, there have been several hateful appalling acts of discrimination at the hospital’s construction site.

Three major Ontario healthcare unions have endorsed the recommended expansion of the scope of practice for Registered Practical Nurses. There are approximately 60,000 Registered Practical Nurses in Ontario.

Today the Chief Medical Officer of Health issued Directive #5, which provides clear guidance that N-95 or superior protection masks, face shields and other equipment are to be provided to health care staff working on the front line in long-term care facilities or hospitals dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, among other improvements.

After months of pressure, the Ontario Government finally started listening to the demands from our union. We’ve been calling for permanent wage increases for ALL healthcare heroes, full-time jobs with benefits like paid sick days and strong pensions, increased staffing levels so our most vulnerable get the care they need, and safe workplaces with accessible PPE.

CUPE Ontario, SEIU Healthcare, and Unifor, unions which collectively represent more than 70,000 long-term care workers, are condemning the inaction of the Government of Ontario and are raising concerns about the significant uptick in cases of COVID-19.

This year, we won’t be able to march side by side, but that doesn’t mean we can’t show our purple pride! Learn more about out how you can celebrate labour day all over Ontario. Click on the links in “more information” to get more details about each event.

More Canadian musicians adding their voice in support of the “CARE NOT PROFITS” advocacy campaign to reinvest profits back into Ontario’s long-term care system. Chantal Kreviazuk, The Sheepdogs, Basia Bulat, Born Ruffians, and Tokyo Police Club latest to support the growing campaign to reform Ontario’s long-term care system.

“Enough talk. We need bold action now.”: a coalition of unions representing front-line healthcare workers respond to Ontario’s long-term care staffing study

Thank you to everyone who submitted an entry to win a scholarship from SEIU Healthcare! We were truly overwhelmed by all of the incredible submissions we received. We’ve chosen our top 11 finalists, and we will let you vote for our four winners.

Ontarians are being urged to join a growing call for profound changes to the province’s long-term care system that would end profit-making in the provision of residential care.