Health care workers are rallying against wage freezes, cut backs and service privatization in a province-wide day of action.
A total of 15,000 UNIFOR health care workers are set to negotiate new contracts this year, many of them coming off a two-year wage freeze.
"There's a suggestion that there are not going to be any increases again this year. We've struggled for a number of years with staff levels and cutbacks, these issues all need to be addressed," says President of UNIFOR Local 302 Nancy McMurphy. "We also have a great fear with the Health Care Accord not being resigned earlier this year by [Prime Minister Stephen] Harper, that really can put all Canadians in a really precarious position when it comes to health care privatization because there's a potential $36-million being cut from health care funding."
In this region Local 302 represents 57 work places that include long-term care homes, paramedics, women's centres and retirement homes.
Local health care workers will rally in Victoria Park ahead of 11am then march to the offices of MPP Deb Matthews and MP Susan Truppe.
All those protesting have been given an approved day off by their employer because many of them are essential services.
[gallery columns="2" ids="372353,372362,372360,372352,372358,372359,372355,372356,372361,372354"]
