Nursing Ratios & Union Power with Michael Hurley President of Ontario Council of Hospital Unions/CUPE

What does it mean to lead a movement? Michael Hurley, a veteran advocate and President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE), joins Amie Archibald-Varley, The Gritty Nurse to discuss the grit required to protect the healthcare workforce.

In this high-stakes episode, we pull back the curtain on what it truly takes to fight for frontline workers. Michael emphasizes that the current crisis in recruitment and retention isn’t an accident—it’s a policy failure. He highlights his work on the front lines of union leadership, focusing on the necessity of staffing ratios and the urgent fight to end violence against staff. From the history of illegal strikes to the modern-day battle against privatization, Michael illustrates how his work as Union President is centered on one goal: empowering workers to reclaim their profession through community mobilization and bold, collective action. Michael shares his transformative journey from healthcare worker to a fearless union leader, revealing why sometimes the most effective path to change requires the courage to take collective action.

Michael breaks down the front-line battles he leads every day, including:

• The Blueprint for Staffing: Why mandated ratios are the only cure for a collapsing system.

• Holding the Line: Michael’s fierce advocacy against the quiet creep of healthcare privatization.

• Safety as a Right: Addressing the "silent epidemic" of violence against healthcare workers and the legislative teeth needed to stop it.

• The Power of the Union: How Michael mobilizes communities to turn individual frustration into unstoppable collective power.

This is a masterclass in advocacy for any nurse who has ever felt unheard.

WHY ONTARIO NEEDS SAFE NURSE STAFFING LEVELS (OCHU Report)

https://ochu.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Safe-nurse-staffing-Report_ENG_Final_WEB.pdf

 

More about Micheal Hurley

Michael Hurley has been a hospital worker and a CUPE member since 1977. He was fired and convicted of contempt of court during the illegal 1981 Ontario hospital strike.

He has been the President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions since 1990. He is also the first Vice-President of CUPE Ontario as well as Regional Vice-President on CUPE’s National Executive Board for Ontario.

He is the proud father of two daughters.

https://ochu.on.ca/history/

https://cupe.ca/michael-hurley-regional-vice-president-ontario

About Ontario Council of Hospital Union (OCHU)

OCHU was founded in 1982 following a very difficult hospital strike and forced arbitration decisions that were unfair to CUPE members.

The seven CUPE regions and CUPE staff worked on a plan to improve the bargaining process, communications with members and locals, and the coordination between regions. They also recognized the need for the existence of a permanent decision-making authority between collective agreements.

The plan developed was received favourably by all locals and led to the founding of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.

About CUPE

We’ve been together for over 50 years.

We do different jobs that require different skills. We are diverse – from all sorts of backgrounds in all corners of the country. But we’re connected by a common purpose. Together we’ve fought for the things that matter most.

Fairness. Equality. Dignity.

There’s still much to be done before we have a truly just society. Empowering young workers, women’s rights, racial equality, dignity for the disabled, as well as justice for First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples.

We have made Canada a better place for millions of workers and their families. We will keep fighting for a Canada where ALL workers have a decent wage, retirement security, dignity and a safe workplace.

As we move forward, we are undertaking an unprecedented initiative to speak with every rank and file member in order to re-create our movement.

We are 800,000 public service workers. We will back each other up. We will speak with one voice.

We are CUPE.

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