MARKHAM, ON, April 17, 2026 /CNW/ – This week, over 900 nurses at Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) made the decision to join the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), making it one of the largest unionization efforts in Ontario’s health care sector in recent years.
“We are excited to welcome the nurses at Markham Stouffville Hospital. This is a significant victory for all nurses and healthcare workers,” says Erin Ariss, registered nurse and ONA Provincial President. “This achievement bolsters our collective movement throughout the province to stand up against a government and employers who are determined to privatize our healthcare system and reduce front-line services.”
Nurses at MSH strive to deliver high-quality and timely care to over 480,000 patients each year, including emergency services, diagnostics, and various clinical programs. Recently, MSH announced cuts to front-line staff as part of their budget balancing efforts. This reflects a broader pattern among public hospitals in Ontario that prioritize financial constraints over providing excellent patient care. As further cuts loom ahead, ONA members across the province are informing Ontarians about how damaging this could be for patient services.
Ariss notes, “With an overwhelming majority of the nurses voting in favor, it’s clear they urgently want a strong union that will advocate for safe staffing levels, manageable workloads, fair pay and more. Together with these new ONA members, we will keep pushing for better working conditions and high-quality public health care for everyone.”
ONA represents 68,000 healthcare professionals along with 18,000 nursing student affiliates who offer care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health sectors, community settings, clinics and industry.
SOURCE Ontario Nurses’ Association
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