How Bargaining Works

We fight every day for the rights of nurses and health-care professionals. We harness our collective power to achieve our goals and advance members’ interests with integrity and professionalism.

An important component of this work is negotiating collective agreements (or contracts) that ensure your voices are heard and that you are valued and your rights are protected on the job.

In the provincial participating hospital sector, your collective agreement has two sections: a provincial agreement and a local agreement. Similarly, in the provincial participating nursing homes sector there are provincial and local provisions that are contained in the same agreement, with local issues set out in italics. Other sectors contain everything in one agreement.

All bargaining, whether at the provincial or local level, is transparent and guided by the demands and priorities of front-lines members. Our power is rooted in speaking out and demanding change with one strong, collective voice.

Provincial Bargaining

Terms and conditions under each provincial agreement are negotiated at the provincial bargaining table and apply to all members within a sector.

You are represented by your sector’s Provincial Negotiating Team, which includes members elected from each region, and in the case of the Hospital Provincial Negotiating Team, a part-time and full-time representative from each region. Provincial Negotiating Teams also include the Provincial President, First Vice-President, CEO, staff negotiators and other subject matter experts.

Members are involved in every step of the bargaining process, from electing your negotiating team to setting and finalizing bargaining demands and raising public awareness and support for fair negotiations.

Provincial agreements typically cover:

• Wages
• Premiums (shift, weekend, on-call, student supervision, etc.)
• Medical, extended health care, mental health and dental benefits
• Amount of vacation
• Professional responsibility clause
• Grievance procedures such as layoffs
• Pension improvements
• Sick time provisions
• Protection from harassment and discrimination
• Protection from discipline/termination
• Bereavement leave
• Salary top-ups for pregnancy/parental leave
• Mentoring

You can find the latest provincial bargaining updates for your sector on our Bargaining Updates page.

Local Bargaining

Local agreements are negotiated between members of your elected Bargaining Unit team, ONA staff and your employer.

Local agreements may cover:

• Scheduling
• Composition of committees (such as Labour-Management, Grievance, Joint Health and Safety, etc.)
• Union leaves of absence
• Vacation time off and scheduling rules
• Travel and parking
• Scheduling Penalty Premiums (consecutive tours, consecutive weekends, time off between shifts, etc.)
• Meal breaks and rest periods
• Bulletin boards
• Uniforms
• Modified work rules
• Job sharing

Not all Bargaining Units will be covered for all of these items. It’s always best to check with your Bargaining Unit President (BUP) if you have any questions about your contract.

Bargaining Outcomes

We have achieved many significant enhancements to our members’ working conditions and compensation, thanks to collective bargaining, including:

• The professional responsibility clause
• Premium pay
• Shift premiums
• Weekend premiums
• On-call premiums
• Student supervision premiums
• Protection from harassment and discrimination in the workplace
• Protection from discipline/termination
• Paid professional learning
• Protection from health and safety hazards
• Wage increases
• Salary top-up for maternity and parental leave
• Benefits
• Dental benefits
• Extended health-care benefits
• Mental health benefits
• Pension improvements
• Bereavement leave
• Sick leave
• Holiday pay
• Vacation entitlement
• Vacation pay
• Scheduling provisions
• And much, much more!