May 2, 2024

 

During National Nursing Week, May 6-12, 2024, Unifor proudly honours the dedication and unwavering commitment of Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) across Canada. Unifor represents 4,000 Registered or Licensed Practical Nurses and Registered Nurses who work in hospitals, private and municipal long-term care homes.

This year’s theme, “Changing Lives. Shaping Tomorrow.” reflects the pivotal role these professionals play in transforming health care and crafting the future of patient care.

From the early 1900s, when nursing began to take shape as a regulated profession, to the complex health care ecosystem of today, the journey of nurses, particularly RPNs and LPNs, has been one of growth and increased responsibility.

Initially established during times of need, such as the world wars, the roles of RPNs/LPNs have evolved significantly. By the mid-20th century, regulatory bodies across Canada began to formally recognize and increase the scope of practice for practical nurses, acknowledging their critical role in the expanding health care system.

Today, RPNs/LPNs are foundational to the health care system, and are often assigned responsibilities in a scope of practice nearly indistinguishable from RNs.

Governed under the same professional standards, RPNs and LPNs carry out many of the same tasks as RNs, and possess autonomy in their practice, often in complex clinical settings. Their education, continuous professional development, and regulatory standards equip them to provide exceptional care and meet the diverse needs of patients.

Despite their extensive skills and crucial roles, RPNs and LPNs often face challenges related to under-recognition and under-utilization. Systemic issues such as a lack of funding and increasing workloads further compound these challenges, underscoring the need for a concerted effort to address these disparities.

It is vital that we as a community recognize the immense value RPNs and LPNs bring to patient care and health outcomes. Unifor has long called upon health care institutions, policymakers, and the public to acknowledge and leverage the full potential of practical nurses.

As we celebrate this week, let us also commit to enhancing the professional environment for RPNs and LPNs, ensuring they can continue to excel and lead in their roles.

To all RPNs and LPNs: we see your hard work, your dedication, and your passion. Thank you for changing lives today and shaping the health care of tomorrow.

Download the Nursing Week social media shareable here.

 

May 1, 2024

 

KANATA, Ont.—Members of Unifor Local 1541 who work at Best Theratronics – a company in Kanata, Ont. that manufactures medical devices – went on strike this morning after the company refused to budge on major concessions, including a proposed two-year contract with zero wage increases.

“We are dealing with an affordability crisis right now and having zeros on the table is untenable for our members, with the rising cost of living,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“Strike action is not something we take lightly, and we will stand by our members until Best Theratronics gets back to the table with a fair offer in hand.”

The company is also pushing the right to hire uncertified workers to do the work of machinists.

“We are concerned the company is cutting corners and it becomes a safety issue,” said Local 1541 President Steve LaBelle.

“This is a devaluing of Skilled Trades. Our members have the proper skills and certification to do their jobs and want to get back to work when the company addresses their concerns and shows them the respect they deserve.”

Local 1541’s 44 members work as machinists, maintenance workers, machining process specialists, electrical inspectors, mechanics, and lead pourers amongst other positions.

Best Theratronics develops and manufactures external beam therapy units, self-contained blood irradiators, and cyclotrons for hospitals, medical and research facilities.

The last contract expired March 31, 2023.

April 30, 2024

 

Workers at St. Andrew’s Terrace Long Term Care Community in Cambridge, Ont., have chosen Unifor as their voice in the workplace.

This new addition brings 170 workers from various classifications, including personal support workers (PSW), cooks, environmental workers, dietary aides, maintenance staff, and life enrichment personnel.

The campaign for unionization began in Feb. 2024, driven by the workers’ desires for improved job security, better working conditions, fair wages, and enhanced benefits and pension plans.

Their collective voice was clearly heard on April 11, 2024, when they voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining Unifor.

As Unifor prepares to negotiate a collective agreement, the union remains committed to ensuring that the concerns of our newest members are addressed, and that the workplace becomes a model of fairness and equity.

To learn more on how you can organize your workplace, visit join.unifor.org.

April 28, 2024

 

Unifor members and staff joined the annual Steps for Life event in Toronto’s Coronation Park on Sunday, April 28, the Day of Mourning. The walk is hosted by Threads of Life, an organization that supports those impacted by workplace illness, injury and death and fights to end workplace tragedies.

The event hit record registration this year with more than 400 participants, raising a combined $65,000 to support the work of the organization. The Unifor team raised $4,800, including contributions from the national union and Unifor’s national staff union, and supporters, family and friends’ contributions.

Unifor’s Director of Health, Safety and Environment Joanne Hay delivered remarks to a large crowd of participants and supporters, recognizing organized labour’s role in effecting changes that protect worker’s health and safety.

“We must continue to push and demand that employers create and support robust safety programs and cultures within their workplaces,” said Hay. “Health and Safety is not optional. Workers deserve and have a right to be safe at work.”

Unifor Director of Health, Safety and Environment Joanne Hay speaks to event participants on the Day of Mourning

She emphasized the increased impact authorities and regulators could have in preventing workplace death and serious injuries if they developed a stronger approach to enforcement.

“We need new and improved health and safety regulations, and even more urgently, police and regulators must enforce existing laws, including the Westray Law,” she said. “We ask police leadership to work in a coordinated manner with Crown Prosecutors and Safety Regulators to create a harmonized approach that will see employers charged when they choose profit over workers’ health and safety.”

Unions recently marked the 20th anniversary of the Westray Law, which amended the Criminal Code of Canada to establish the criminal liability of corporations and executives for careless or reckless breach of legal duties that result in injury or death.

Despite the law being on the books for two decades, there have been fewer than 20 charges and even fewer convictions of corporations and their executives.

Approximately 1,000 workers in Canada die each year in workplace incidents.

To date in 2024, Unifor mourns the loss of MWF Local 1 member Jamie Knight at the Halifax Shipyard who died on February 19; a transport driver member of Local 4209 at Kindersley Transport on March 6 who name is being withheld at the request of the family; uncle and nephew fish harvester members of FFAW-Unifor Trevor Childs and Nicholas Skinner who died on April 21; and Jim Anderson, a driver at WM in Calgary who died on April 24, 2024.

Each step taken at the Steps for Life walk is to honour those lost and to re-commit to taking action to prevent worker injuries and deaths.

See photos of the event on Facebook.

Read and share National President Lana Payne’s statement for the Day of Mourning and watch her video message to Unifor members.