A strong voice for administrative and clerical workers at SickKids
You keep SickKids running. By unionizing, you can fight for better pay, fair treatment and real job protections.
A union is a way for you and your co-workers to act together to improve your working conditions. Together, you can negotiate a collective agreement—a contract with the hospital that set out pay, benefits, job security and more.
Sign your confidential union card
What’s at stake
SickKids deficit and restructuring
SickKids faces a deficit of more than $100 million. The provincial government is requiring hospitals to eliminate their deficits with cuts to be made to non-clinical areas. That puts administrative and clerical jobs directly at risk.
Hiring freeze means more work for you
At the October 19 town hall, Ronni said the hiring freeze would likely continue for another one to two years. You are already doing more as colleagues leave and positions go unfilled. Another two years of vacancies would mean even heavier workloads for those left behind.
What unionized hospital workers have won
Unionized hospital workers enjoy superior working conditions, including, but not limited to:
Better pay and annual wage increases
CUPE members at SickKids negotiate wage creases every year. In 2025, CUPE staff won a 4.25% increase as opposed to the 2.25% given to non-union workers in 2026.
CUPE staff also get ½ hour paid lunch and didn’t have to cut their wages. SickKids actually cut some clerks’ hourly wage to pay for a break – up to $4,000 per year.
Protections from layoffs and technological changes
When jobs are threatened, workers need a say in what happens next. CUPE’s existing agreement at SickKids requires the hospital to work with the union to explore alternatives to layoffs. It also provides ways for eligible workers to move into other positions, retrain or return to work after a layoff.
These processes make a real difference. Earlier this year, The Ottawa Hospital announced plans to eliminate roughly 400 positions. By September, it reported limiting involuntary departures to 17 people through measures including vacancy management and early retirement. That doesn’t erase the impact of staffing cuts, but it shows how alternatives to layoffs can help workers remain employed.
Read more about layoff protections.
Fair treatment at work
When you’re unionized, your Collective Agreement will set out rules for workplace decisions. This helps protect workers from favouritism and unfair treatment. If the hospital breaks those rules, workers have a formal process to challenge the decision, with union representation and support.
Sign your confidential union card
How unionizing works
- Sign a card: You confidentially sign a union card to show support.
- Secret ballot vote: When enough workers sign, your union can call for a vote.
- Majority wins: If most people who vote, vote “YES” you form your union.
- Negotiate your first contract: You and your co-workers decide your priorities and elect your own bargaining committee.