TORONTO — An arbitrator has awarded salary increases totalling 6.25 per cent to 45,000 Ontario hospital workers, plus two dollars an hour more for registered practical nurses.
According to SEIU Healthcare and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the bump-ups of 3.75 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively are in addition to one per cent increases previously awarded for 2022 and 2023 by another arbitrator under the cap imposed by the Ontario government's controversial Bill 124.
In a joint announcement Tuesday afternoon, the two unions said the Bill 124 "reopener award" recognizes the extent to which the legislation unconstitutionally suppressed wages, and recognizes the combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare worker recruitment and retention crisis, and inflation.
But they also said the increases still fall well short of inflation and what's needed to respond to the shortage of healthcare workers in Ontario hospitals.
The arbitration award includes increases to shift and weekend premiums, call-back, vision and massage coverage.
Last November in Superior Court, Bill 124 was ruled unconstitutional, but the government has filed an appeal.
SEIU Healthcare and CUPE said they are calling on the Ontario Hospital Association to stand with the unions and demand that the appeal be abandoned.
As a result of the court ruling last fall, in April an arbitrator also awarded members of the Ontario Nurses Association pay hikes over and above the one per cent limit set by Bill 124.
