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Ontario Hospital Nurses Awarded Pay Increases After Bill 124 Deemed Unconstitutional

Ontario hospital nurses awarded pay bumps after wage restraint law deemed unconstitutional

Arbitrators have awarded Ontario hospital nurses additional salary increases after a wage restraint law was deemed unconstitutional. 

Bill 124, which was passed in 2019, capped wage increases for nurses and other public sector workers at one percent a year for three years. 

In November, the bill was ruled unconstitutional, though the province has filed an appeal. 

The Ontario Nurses Association sought retroactive pay through an arbitrator, and have been awarded a 0.75 percent wage increase for the year starting April 1st, 2020. 

As well, an extra one percent was given for the following year, as well as an added two percent for last year. 

However, the association says the amounts don't reflect the value of registered nurses, and won't do much to address staffing shortages. 

Arbitration will take place next week for the hospital nurses' next contract.
 

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