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Published on April 3, 2025

On March 5, 2025, Veena Sriram, Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, delivered a seminar examining how health worker protests evolved during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. She explored global protest trends, their political and systemic influences and the role of unions in shaping workforce policies.

Using data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset (ACLED), Veena analyzed 6,600 health worker protests across 149 countries from 2020-2021. She noted that protest activity increased by 62% in 85 countries, with the majority (66%) demanding better working conditions and fair wages. Surprisingly, only 9% of protests centered on PPE shortages despite widespread media attention. Veena also highlighted that many health workers protested broader social issues such as climate change, immigration policies and police brutality.

Focusing on Canada, she reported 157 health worker protests from 2021-2022 with Ontario experiencing the highest number of events. While most protests were related to working conditions and compensation, some protests led by the Canadian Frontline Nurses opposed COVID-19 mandates. Although these were not the majority, Veena emphasized that they reflected ideological divisions within the profession.

In the second half of the seminar Veena examined the role of nursing unions and associations in Canada, the United States and India. She presented case studies, including Alberta’s United Nurses' protests against wage rollbacks, Minnesota nurses' advocacy for staffing regulations and contractual nurses in India demanding job security and fair wages.

Veena concluded that health worker protests serve as critical accountability mechanisms in healthcare governance. However unions and associations face challenges navigating political landscapes, privatization and internal divisions, all of which shape their ability to effect systemic change.

Connect With Veena Sriram.

Watch the seminar here:

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