The website sudbury.com is reporting that a group calling itself “Canadian Frontline Nurses” is expected to participate in an anti-vaccine passport rally in Sudbury this Sunday – and health care unions are united in opposition to the rally, including OPSEU/SEFPO.
In a news release, the union’s President, Warren (Smokey) Thomas, said, “Front-line health care workers, patients and their families should not have to run a gauntlet of angry protesters just to go to work or get the health care they need.
“These are innocent bystanders who don’t make policy decisions. We owe hospital front-line workers our respect and gratitude for risking their lives to take care of us in the last 18 months, not angry protests. And patients in need of care should not have to put up with this nonsense.
“I personally support vaccination. While I support the right to protest, this activity and its intended target is unacceptable. Full stop. If we are to escape the nightmare of this pandemic, now is the time to come together,” said Thomas.
Eduardo Almeida, OPSEU/SEFPO First Vice-president/Treasurer, said the protest organizers are misguided if they think that targeting hospital patients and workers is going to win them any support.
“We’re talking about some of the most vulnerable patients in the province and some of the most courageous and heroic workers you’ll ever meet: They don’t deserve to get caught in the middle of a fight they have nothing to do with,” said Almeida.