The Ontario Nurses’ Association says almost 3,000 community health workers went on strike on Jan. 30, 2015.KEVIN VAN PAASSEN/The Globe and Mail
The Ontario Nurses' Association says almost 3,000 community health workers are on strike as of today.
The union says nine of 10 bargaining units of workers with the province's community care access centres have voted to strike, with the main issue being wages.
The workers include registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, among other health professionals.
Health Minister Eric Hoskins says he hopes the parties can come to an agreement and notes the government has increased funding for the community care access centres, including an additional $270-million for the home care sector.
New Democrat health critic France Gelinas also urged both sides to return to the table, saying the best way to protect patient care and respect frontline health-care workers is to reach a negotiated agreement.
The strike affects most areas of Ontario, except for the Ottawa area, central Toronto and communities just west of Toronto, including Mississauga and Halton Region.