Check out media coverage from the rally: OPSEU in the News: Hospital workers in the WRHN rally for equitable pay
September 20, 2025
On September 17, Hospital workers at the midtown location of the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) rallied to sound the alarm on unfair and unequal wages. The Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) includes two recently merged hospitals: Grand River and St. Mary’s. Workers at the Grand River are unionized, while workers at St. Mary’s are not. While workers at both sites perform the same work, unionized workers are now being paid less than non-unionized workers. Recently, WRHN offered a $7/pay cost of living increase – but only to non-unionized workers. This is a blatant attempt from the WRHN to influence the outcomes of the recent merger and an upcoming unionization vote and demonstrates that the WRHN will continue to act inequitably and unfairly in a non-unionized environment. OPSEU/SEFPO Local 236 President Judy Kaye Freeman told City News: “Right now, it’s very demoralizing for our staff here, the union staff, to see the non-union staff get a wage increase for doing the exact same work. That’s what we’re trying to bring to light.” Check out media coverage from the rally:
Check out media coverage from the rally: