Saying hybrid work works, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees at Ontario Health atHome held rallies throughout the province to protest the Ontario government's return to office mandate.
In the Erie St. Clair region, around 300 employees were affected by the return to office mandate that required all workers to be in the office five days a week.
However, since a hybrid model was adopted in 2019, office space has shrunk, and many do not have an office to return to.
"They're going to have to put a lot tax payers money into more real estate to accommodate everyone and the new people that they have coming in, and that takes away money from the public health system," said Brett Geneau, a provincial CUPE representative.
Geneau said workers are looking to maintain the hybrid work model that has been worker for Ontario Health atHome for many years.
"The federal government got a three/two, and I think that's what our people would be happy with, and I think the employer would be happy with that as well since they can't accommodate all of the people," said Geneau.
Provincial CUPE representatives planned a rally for the Windsor-Essex region at noon on Monday; however, no employees participated.
Geneau said a rally was also held in the Chatham region.
-with files from Maureen Revait
