45 YEARS OF ONA HISTORY: KEY MILESTONES

A collective voice for nurses 1973

ONA is formed by nurses to work for frontline nurses across Ontario’s health-care system.

Fair Pay 1974

ONA negotiates a collective agreement that achieves wage increases ranging from 33% to 50% to members at 41 hospitals.

Advocating for patients 1979

ONA negotiates the first professional responsibility clause – a formal process for RNs to pursue with employers when they believe understaffing is putting patient care is at risk.

Health and safety 2003

ONA makes a strong and impactful submission to the Campbell Commission into the SARS outbreak, in which two Ontario nurses died. In its 2007 report, the Commission praises RNs’ devotion during the outbreak and recommends better occupational health and safety practices in health-care facilities.

Fairness 2015

ONA supports striking members at several Community Care Access Centres and ultimately, arbitration awards the same wage increase as members in other health-care sectors.

Violence protection 2017

Through advocacy, a nurses’ petition and partnership, ONA achieves progress in workplace violence prevention for nurses and health-care professionals.