When: Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Rally #1: Providence Hospital Scarborough, 3276 St. Clair Ave. East, Scarborough, ON Arrive for 9:45 a.m.

Rally #2: St Joseph’s Hospital (St Joseph’s Health Centre) Toronto, 30 The Queensway, Toronto, ON, Arrive for 11:00 a.m.

Rally #3: St Michael’s Hospital, 36 Queen St E. Toronto, ON Arrive for 1:00 p.m.

What:  Hundreds of supporters, dedicated front-line registered nurses, registered practical nurses, medical lab technologists, health care aides, cleaners, clerical staff, and other hospital workers to combat the proposed privatization of hospital services by the Ford government and protect the future of our public healthcare system.

Our goal is to show our united opposition to the government’s plan to contract out surgeries and diagnostic procedures to private clinics.

More than 4000 committed workers, representing a majority of the unionized staff at all three sites, have already signed a petition calling for a halt to privatization. They are demanding investments in safe staffing levels through higher wages and a permanent solution to the staffing crisis.

At the rallies, frontline staff alongside local and provincial union leaders, including representatives from ONA, Unifor, OPSEU/SEPFO, CUPE, and SEIU Healthcare, will unfurl a large banner displaying the petition and the signatures of the workers who have signed onto it. It will be a powerful display of solidarity and determination to protect our public healthcare system.

This action is a direct response to the Ontario PC’s recent legislation, Bill 60, also known as the deceptively named Your Health Act.

If implemented, this plan would devastate services in most of Ontario’s public hospitals, including Toronto’s and pose a threat to public healthcare.

The rallies on Thursday is part of an ongoing series of visible actions by front-line hospital staff in communities across the province.

In solidarity,

Jordan Lennox, President
Unifor Local 199