“We’ve Worked Hard for You. Don’t Take Our Rights Away,” Say Ontario Hospital Staff Holding in the Workplace Political Protest Tuesday

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ontario hospital staff who have worked hard and been put at higher risk of infection throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are holding escalating political actions against provincial government legislation (Bill 195) that takes away basic workplace rights.

Today (Tuesday, July 21) at 11 a.m. front-line hospital staff who are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will hold a five-minute, in the hospital political protest against Bill 195 that if not amended will impose “emergency order” workplace conditions on them for an indefinite time.

At a media conference also on Tuesday at 11 a.m., Steven Barrett with Goldblatt Partners and Michael Hurley president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE) will highlight the impacts of Bill 195 on hospital workers' rights and their morale.

“Stripping the contract rights of dedicated health care workers, who have sacrificed so much during this pandemic including being with their families and friends to shield them from infection, has consequences for this government. This is picking unnecessary conflict with a loyal workforce. The Premier and his ministers are creating instability just as the province is reopening. We encourage them to reconsider taking away health care workers’ rights,” says Hurley.

On Friday CUPE hospital workers staged workplace rallies across Ontario opposing aspects of Bill 195. On a provincial call yesterday (Monday) CUPE hospital sector members voted on further political protest actions unless Bill 195 is amended.

Health care workers in Ontario do not have the right to strike and have a very limited right to refuse unsafe work.

Media are encouraged to pre-register for Tuesday’s media conference on ZOOM here:

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUude2oqjssHdCWOx9DSDV7IS8BTaWRv8kv

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