About Us
Our History
We’ve educated the public, rallied the media, partnered with labour organizations and contributed to lasting historical change. We are proud of our progress and committed to the ongoing fight for fairness and high-quality public health care.
Get to know ONA, from grassroots beginnings to major milestones.
1970s-1980s
On October 13, 1973, ONA is founded during an all-day meeting of 85 nurses’ associations at the Toronto Westbury Hotel. Three months after its founding, ONA is recognized by the Ontario Labour Relations Board. This is an important step towards greater credibility and collective strength.
In 1981, the central collective agreement covering hospital nurses is achieved. ONA works to ensure this agreement is applied fairly in all hospitals. This province-wide bargaining model remains in place today.
In 1986, ONA opens its head office on the corner of Grenville and Elizabeth, next to the physician’s college. ONA’s growing movement of more than 30,000 members inspires other Canadian health-care workers to come together. By the end of the decade, nine provinces have recognized nurses’ unions.
1990s
Between 1990 and 1993, allied health-care professionals become a part of ONA, and we join other public-sector unions to fight against concessions of the social contract. This decision eventually leads to ONA having more control over the hospital Workers’ Pension Plan.
In 1998, ONA successfully defends Gita Proudman, a registered nurse who was wrongfully charged with second-degree murder of an infant. Gita’s acquittal is a testament to how we fight against unfair treatment of nurses in the workplace.
2000s
In 2000, ONA becomes a member of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) and automatically becomes part of the Canadian Labour Congress. Four years later, we join the Ontario Federation of Labour. We are actively engaged with these organizations and similar groups to this day. We eventually add students as affiliate members.
After the outbreak in 2003 kills two members, ONA redoubles its efforts to build basic safety culture and workplace safety systems, and we lead a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the outbreak.
In November 2005, registered nurse Lori Dupont is murdered at work. We mourn her loss and demand improved measures from the government and employers to protect workers from violence and harassment. Our lobbying leads to the passing of Bill 168, which calls on employers to address domestic violence when it spills over into the workplace.
2010s
In 2015, nearly 3,000 of Ontario’s home-care workers, including registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and occupational and speech therapists go on strike to fight for better wages.
In 2019, the Ontario government introduces and passes Bill 124, wage-suppression legislation negatively impacting nurses, health-care professionals and other public-sector workers. ONA and other unions challenge the bill in court, as members across the province rally and lobby for the government to repeal it. We are ultimately victorious. Bill 124 is ruled unconstitutional in 2022 and in 2024 the government loses its appeal and repeals the bill.
2020s
In 2020, as the world combats the COVID-19 pandemic, ONA demands better working conditions, access to mental health support and proper personal protective equipment. We participate in the government’s long-term care COVID-19 commission to make our voices—and those of our patients and residents—heard.
In 2021, we launched our first strategic plan to guide our work and keep us focused on what matters most: our members. We also developed an anti-racism and anti-oppression action plan in 2022 to bring lasting positive change within our ranks.
We’re now more than 68,000 members strong with members in over 60 Locals across Ontario. In 2023, after our 50th anniversary, we launch a renewed brand celebrating our history of grassroots activism focusing on local action. We empower members with tools to reclaim their voices and act at the local level, in their workplaces and communities. In the past, today and tomorrow, local action is our action.
Explore videos on our union’s history, past events and more on ONA’s YouTube channel!
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