A Demonstration of Unity in Windsor is calling on the province to extend pandemic pay to more frontline workers.
A group of workers, union members and other hospital staff gathered at both campuses of Windsor Regional Hospital to march around the buildings in what they say is letting the community know that they are frontline proud and are staying strong during the challenging times.
Organizer Susan Bohnert Hamlin, Local President for OPSEU 101, the union for Allied Health Hospital Professionals in Windsor, says they have a message for Premier Doug Ford.
"Understand, this is the frontline crew and we're coming here everyday and these are the people that need the recognition," she says.
According to Bohnert Hamlin, there are number of frontline workers who have been left off the list.
"We're missing pharmacists, we're missing techs, we're missing lab, we're missing, DI [diagnostic imaging], we're missing a whole bunch of people, physio people, everyone here that's at the frontline working.
With many other hospital staff and other unions showing up to the march, Hamlin says having the support is encouraging.
"It has been such a relief to know that they are on our side. They're also here at the frontline, the managers, the administrators, they're here as well, everybody has been brave everybody has been coming to serve the community.”
The temporary pandemic pay was announced in April and will see a $4 increase on top of front line workers' regular hourly wage, according to the province.
— With files from AM800's Teresinha Medeiros