Hospital workers rally for equal pay in Hamilton

Ontario’s medical community continues to demand the public eye, as just today (April 17), healthcare staff currently employed by Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) are holding three simultaneous information rallies at several hospitals in the Hamilton area to help address issues surrounding equal pay. 

The locations that will be impacted include Hamilton General Hospital, Juravinski Hospital and the McMaster Children’s Hospital, as these are the primary care facilities in which healthcare workers are represented under the OPSEU/SEFPO Local 273 state they are being mistreated. 

According to an official statement by OPSEU/SEFPO, representatives with Local 273 have been at the bargaining table for almost a year and have been trying to set a standard of wage that matches other healthcare workers who fall under OPSEU/SEFPO’s standards. 

Local 273 comprises roughly 1,110 care workers, including, but not limited to, therapists, technologists, respiratory therapists, behavioral therapists, rehabilitation therapists and advanced rehabilitation therapists. These rallies will be held today outside each of the three mentioned locations, in an attempt to gain public favor and showcase Local 273’s intent to hospital management. 

These informational gatherings will occur today from 11 am to 2 pm — at the time of publication — information remains limited on Local 273’s intended steps after today’s demonstration.