Representatives for the 26 workers went to the nation’s capital to hold an information picket during the Liberal Party’s Annual General Meeting over the weekend.
Spokesperson Linda Radbourne says they had the chance to meet with Health Minister George Smitherman, who she says took the workers’ concerns seriously.
She says they wanted to make him aware of the dispairity in their wages – they Health Unit workers are the second lowest paid in the province out of all those who do the same type of work.
Radbourne says Smitherman also had many questions about what the workers call the Health Unit’s “dysfunctions.”
She says with 26 workers out for seven weeks, it has not been “business as usual” inside the building.
Radbourne says they worry that without a full staff, if an outbreak were to happen in the community, it could not be handled effectively or efficiently.
Radbourne says they’re not sure what, if any, action will be taken by the province, but the under the Health Protection Act, Smitherman does have grounds to step in at some point if he deems it necessary.
She says the Health Unit Board has a meeting this Friday, and she’s sure the workers trip will come up in discussions.
She hopes this will be the catalyst to getting talks started again.
Radbourne says the strikers want to get back to work, and the fact the Board has shut down any talks gives the message the Board doesn’t value the workers.
