Debbie Forward acclaimed nurses’ union president for ninth term
Debbie Forward has been acclaimed as president of the Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland and Labrador (RNU) and will serve a ninth consecutive term effective Jan. 1,
2018 to Dec. 31,
2020.
Forward has been a registered nurse for
37 years and is currently serving her
21st consecutive year as union president.
“I’m honoured registered nurses continue to support me as leader of RNU,” Forward said in a news release. “I’m ready and eager to meet the challenges that lie ahead, including securing a fair and respectful collective agreement for our members.”
The positions of vice-president and secretary-treasurer of the RNU board of directors have also been acclaimed. Yvette Coffey of St. John’s was elected to her second term as vice-president and Tony Moores of St. John’s will begin his first term as secretary-treasurer. Both are also registered nurses.
“Advocating for safer registered nurse staffing will remain a huge focus for our board and branch volunteers over the next three years,” Forward said. “When there are safe RN staffing levels and healthy work environments, patient outcomes improve and the cost to deliver health care decreases. It’s in everyone’s best interest that RN staffing practices are improved.”
In addition to the president, vice-president and secretarytreasurer, 11 regional representatives sit on the board. The regional representatives, all registered nurses, who were elected and acclaimed are: Region 1 – Ashley Jones Region 2 – Gina Elliot Region 3 – Mike Fagan Region 4 – Christa Philpott Region 5 – Brenda Dicks Region 6 – Deneka Pottle Region 7 – Mark Aylward Region 8 – Niki Parsons Region 9 – Rosalie Gillis, Miranda O’driscoll and Kimberly Parsons
The Registered Nurses’ Union represents more than 5,700 registered nurses in the province.