Frontline workers protested outside Belleville General Hospital on Tuesday.
They are calling for a return to the bargaining table with Quinte Health.
President of the local Unifor 8300, Kathleen Brooks, says the hospital is not willing to go back to the bargaining table as it awaits the decision on an appeal of Bill 124.
“We’ve explained that could take a year, four years, 10 years, and we’re not interested in waiting,” Brooks tells Quinte News.
“We’re interested in getting back to the table and getting an agreement for a membership. So if they’re not willing to give us some time to come back to the table and have a discussion and figure out what we can do with a fair agreement for these people, then we have no choice but to force them and take it on the street and make the community aware of what Quinte Health is doing to their workers.”
Bill 124 was first introduced in 2019 and in effect for three years before it was deemed unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court.
The bill capped salary increases for the public sector to one per cent.
Multiple workers including nurses, personal support workers, and housekeeping, kitchen, and maintenance staff were part of the protest.
Brooks says the last time the union and Quinte Health were at the bargaining table was in September.
“We sent them notifications and I have had multiple phone calls with them and there’s still no date and no agreement to get back to the table,” Brooks said.
Brooks says now is the time to get back to the table.
“This is not the time to play with health care workers,” Brooks said.
“Health care workers are in an uproar across the province. It’s not just this hospital and it’s time to show a little bit of respect and get back and honour their promises to us.”
