Nurses, health-care workers to protest Friday in Sudbury

A Greater Sudbury sign is pictured in this undated photo. (File)

Sudbury — The Ontario Nurse's Association has announced a Friday afternoon protest in Sudbury.

"Sudbury frontline registered nurses and health-care professionals will hold a rally Friday to call for action from the government, not words, that respect these health-care heroes and the care they provide daily," ONA said in a news release.

Members of Ontario Nurses’ Association Local 2 and Local 13 will line the intersection of York and Paris streets in Sudbury to hold the socially distant rally at 4 p.m. today, the release said.

They will be joined by both Sudbury MPP Jamie West and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas.

"Nurses and health-care professionals have been called heroes by this government," ONA said. "However, the government’s actions have harmed their working conditions and put their health and safety at risk."

The union said Sudbury nurses and health-care professionals continue to work short-staffed and often without adequate and appropriate PPE to keep them safe.

ONA represents 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals as well as more than 18,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in hospitals, long-term care, public health, home and community care and industry.

The protest is scheduled to run from 4-5:30 p.m. on York and Paris streets.