What’s described as a “mass protest of front line registered nurses and healthcare professionals” will be held at noon Thursday outside the Sheraton Centre hotel in downtown Toronto.

That’s where mediated talks have started between representatives with the Ontario Nurses Association and the Ontario Hospital Association.

ONA negotiators say mediation is “a last ditch effort” to reach a negotiated settlement.

It will be the first contract for nurses since being subject to Bill 124, later found unconstitutional, which capped wage increases at 1-percent a year over three years.

Union reps have not publicly said how much they are seeking in wage increases, only that “it’s safe to say it’s far more than the previous contract.

Following Thursday’s rally at the Sheraton Centre, at about 1pm, nurses plan to march up University Avenue past ‘hospital row’ to bring their message of better staffing, better wages and better care to Premier Doug Ford at Queen’s Park.