Ona Collective Agreement 2020
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The Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) is the professional association representing registered nurses (RN), registered practical nurses (RPN), and nurse practitioners (NP) in Ontario, Canada. The ONA is responsible for negotiating collective agreements for its members with employers in various settings, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and home care agencies, among others.
The ONA has been negotiating a new collective agreement for its members since the previous agreement expired on March 31, 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for the bargaining process, as the parties had to adapt to new working conditions and priorities while ensuring the safety and well-being of their members and patients.
Despite these challenges, the ONA and its bargaining partners have been able to reach tentative agreements in several sectors, including hospitals, public health units, and community care access centers, among others. These agreements address many issues that are important to nurses, such as workload, staffing, scheduling, compensation, benefits, and job security. They also reflect the evolving nature of nursing practice, as it becomes more complex and specialized.
For example, the hospital collective agreement covers more than 68,000 RNs and RPNs working in acute care, rehabilitation, psychiatric, and complex continuing care hospitals across Ontario. The agreement includes a 3% wage increase in each year of the three-year term, as well as improvements to benefits, health and safety, and language regarding job security. The agreement also establishes a Joint Task Force on Violence Prevention, which will address workplace violence and harassment issues that nurses face on a regular basis.
Similarly, the public health unit collective agreement covers around 2,000 nurses working in public health units across Ontario. The agreement includes a 2% wage increase in each year of the three-year term, as well as improvements to benefits, job security, and language regarding scope of practice. The agreement also establishes a Joint Nursing Task Force on Workplace Health and Safety, which will address issues related to infectious diseases, ergonomics, and mental health in the workplace.
In summary, the ONA collective agreements for 2020 reflect the ongoing efforts of nurses to improve their working conditions, advocate for their patients, and contribute to the health and well-being of their communities. The agreements also demonstrate the resilience and adaptability of the ONA and its bargaining partners in the face of unprecedented challenges. As the pandemic continues to impact the health care system and society as a whole, the ONA will remain committed to representing and supporting its members in their vital role as frontline workers.