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HB NEWS HOSPITAL WORKERS RALLY FOR ‘RESPECT’ PROTESTS HELD OVER CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS ROLAND CILLIERS. rcilliers@metroland.com The people on the front lines of the pandemic took astand outside local hospi- tals over what they say s a lack of respect arount going Contract negotia. ions. On Friday (July 28), healthcare workers rallied outside of hospitals in Bur- lin , Oakville, and Mil- ton as part of a province- wide action that will see similar actions at 55 differ- ent facilities throughout the summer. The protes- tors held signs that read, ‘Respect us, protect us, pay us,' and called on the pro- vincial government to not limit wage increases or go forward with contract con- bargaining for nearly 70,000 registered practical nurses, personal support workers, clerical, cleaning, maintenance, di- etary and other staff who are members of the Cana- dian Union of Public Em- ployees (CUPE) and SEIU Healthcare began in June. rie Kennedy, presi- dent of CUPE Local 815, said the pandemic has been difficult for their members. "We are so short-staffed. Nurses are walking away from their careers just be- cause they can't handle what's going on with the pandemic - how we were treated. Understand fully, during the pandemic not Graham Paine/ Metroland CUPE local 815 president Lorrie Kennedy speaks at a hospital workers rally at Milton District Hospital while joined by local healthcare workers. one person didn't do what they were told to do," said mnedy. In 2019, the province passed Bill 124, which lim- its wage increases for a number of healthcare workers to a maximum of one per-cent fOr years. Opponents of Bill 124 yy cy have said it eres with their right to bar; e one per cent i intense is Jess than inflatioi Kennedy argued that this has occurred during a particularly stressful time in their profession where the government has regu- larly labelled them as he- roes. “Everyone is fatigued, we all are, everyone is. But don't forget healthcare hasn't stopped since day one. It's very stressful, be- cause if you think in your own life if you think how you handled it we're just people. Just because we "We are so short-staffed. Nurses are walking away from their careers just because they can't handle what's going on with the pandemic - how we were treated.” - Lorrie Kennedy, president of CUPE Local 815 work here doesn't mean we had this super power to un- Gersand everything and are _ stressed. They'r re second guessing their careers," said Kenn¢ dy. A GUIDE TO EATING LOCAL FOODSTUFFS Specialty ¢ Bulk « Health ‘OPEN KITCHEN RESTAURANT For a Small Fee/Week participate in this Foodie Feature linking your business or menu to a QR Code! A Cell: 289-681-2041 ngibson @starmetrolandmedia.com pf Limited Space - Book Today! bzoz ‘6z Ainr ‘Aepsunyy | SiH UOHEH - dal OUL | S eordyouy