They were “low-hanging fruit" for Ontario’s previous Harris government – the service workers in health care, both public and private, made up almost entirely of women - women of colour and recent immigrants. They are deemed “essential” under most provincial labour legislation and therefore denied the right to strike.

Unions had to fight tooth and nail to organize and negotiate decent wages, benefits and working conditions for the cleaners, cooks, nurse’s aides and registered staff. They fought for full-time jobs, but it was much cheaper to hire part-time workers who weren’t entitled to benefits and pensions. They fought for improved staffing ratios, but were told the issue wasn’t within their purview.

Now these workers are being applauded in the streets, lauded in newspaper ads by these same employers, commended by these same governments. Shame on them.

Judi Christou, Retired staff member, Service Employees International Union