Health care workers plan “political action” against Bill 195

A union representing Ontario health-care workers is planning “political action” in response to the province potentially extending its emergency powers.

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions, a division of CUPE, will be making the announcement at Hamilton General Hospital Tuesday morning.

The Progressive Conservative government introduced a bill last week that would allow it to keep some emergency measures in place in the months ahead.

Health-care workers, including nurses, say the orders suspend their collective bargaining agreement with the province.

Union president Michael Hurley says that was acceptable in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic but it’s now a detriment to health-care workers.

The union says 98 per cent of its membership voted in favour of some form of political action.