Registered Practical Nurses at hospitals in Wawa and Elliot Lake were recently awarded a pay increase through arbitrations, while RPNs at Sault Area Hospital were denied
A recent arbitration between a group of northern Ontario health-care providers and the union representing Registered Practical Nurses has resulted in RPNs at Sault Area Hospital being paid less than others in the region — something the union says could result in a further shortage at the hospital.
Health-care workers, including Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs), represented by Unifor Local 1359 were in negotiations with the Northern Hospital Group since 2023 for a new contract.
Northern Hospital Group represents 10 northern Ontario hospitals, including Sault Area Hospital (SAH), St. Joseph’s General Hospital (SJGH) in Elliot Lake and Lady Dunn Health Centre (LDHC) in Wawa.
After many months of fruitless negotiation, the matter was eventually resolved by way of interest arbitration in a decision dated June 25, 2025.
The union was seeking a pay increase for RPNs at SAH, SJGH and LDHC from $38.17 an hour, to close the gap in pay between them and Registered Nurses (RNs), emphasizing that the scope of practice for RPNs has expanded significantly over the years to the point where they are authorized to perform 90 per cent of the duties of an RN, but earn considerably less.
The proposed increase to $40.78 per hour would would bring RPNs at the three hospitals in line with the rate reached in a recent settlement between CUPE and Espanola General Hospital.
In the decision, arbitrators awarded an increase to $39.17 for RPNs at SJGH and LDHC similar to those negotiated for the Nipigon and Atikokan hospitals, but RPNs at SAH did not receive a similar increase.
“We’re very disappointed the arbitrator ruled this way and we believe that it will only cause retention and attraction issues in the future at Sault Area Hospital if the RPNs don’t have parity across the hospital sector,” said Cathy Humalamaki, president of Unifor Local 1359 in a phone interview on Monday.
SAH was contacted for comment on Friday, but has not responded.
Humalamaki argues RPNs at SAH may seek employment opportunities at other hospitals that are paying a higher wage, exacerbating an existing nurse shortage at Sault Ste. Marie’s hospital.
She said the lack of increase will not only result in retention issues but also negatively affect the overall morale of RPNs at SAH. Humalamaki noted that because Sault Area Hospital tends to treat more acute cases than SJGH and LDHC, many of the RPNs here tend to have more training and experience.
“If anything, it’s a real slap to the RPNs because they’re more specialized here in the Sault and they’re getting paid less than anywhere else now,” said Humalamaki.
The two sides will go back to the bargaining table in October to negotiate the next collective bargaining agreement.
“Our collective agreement ends Oct. 11, 2025, and notice to bargain is going to be going in very shortly. We’re going to be meeting with all of our membership across the region to get proposals — and again all those adjustments are going to be on the table again,” said Laurie Lessard-Brown, Unifor National representative.