SUDBURY -- Registered nurses and other health care professionals took to the Bridge of Nations on Paris Street Friday morning to protest Bill 124.

Bill 124, the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019, received Royal Assent Nov. 2019 and puts a one per cent cap on public-sector wage increases for public service workers including registered nurses and other health care professionals for three years.

The law indicates some public sector workers, such as police and firefighters, are exempt from the cap.

The group protesting in Sudbury call the one per cent cap on wage increases devaluing.

"Why weren’t we exempted from this bill and other professions have been," questioned one frustrated registered nurse who wished not to be named. "Doug Ford has gone to the media saying we are heroes and we’re essential and basically this Bill shows that we aren’t that to him and we’re meaningless basically."

Some nurses also say that they haven’t received a raise over one per cent in the past ten years. They say that this is their chance to bargain for fair legislation. 

“It’s been capped because of Bill 124 and because of the pandemic we’ve gone through, we feel that Doug Ford said we are so essential lots of praise so put your money where your mouth is and remove this Bill so we can negotiate a little bit better,” said one registered nurse who wished to not be named. 

Protesters say they feel that this bill violates the right to gender equality. 

“Why were police offers exempt, good for them they should be exempt," said one protester who wished to not be named. "There should be no exception. There should be an abolishment of the Bill, nobody should be under this Bill. Firefighters are also exempt and they are two very male oriented professions.”

Sudbury MPP Jamie West and Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas were also in attendance. Gélinas, who is also the health critic for the official opposition, says it’s not right to take away nurses rights to bargain, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“At a time where we need them so badly, at a time when they work so hard, it's more than they can take," expressed Gélinas. "Let’s not do this. Let’s be real to your word. They are having a really tough time right now. Let them negotiate, that’s all they are asking for."

In a statement to CTV News, Sebastian Skamski, the Press Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board said that front-line workers are being recognized for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic through the temporary pandemic pay program.

The pandemic was declared in March and the province's promise of a $4 per hour wage top-up is to be applied for work performed between Apr. 24 to Aug. 13 for those eligible.

Skamski said allegations of pay equity violations are unwarranted.

Read more about the differences between pay equity and equal pay from the Pay Equity Commission here.