Local public health nurses return to the picket line
Strike/lockout looming later this month for public health nurses
With negotiations stalled and a legal strike/lockout date looming later this month, Peterborough Public Health nurses picketed outside their King Street headquarters prior to Wednesday’s monthly board of health meeting.
The 31 local nurses, members of the Ontario Nurses Association, have been without a contract since October 2017.
The contract dispute, which went to conciliation early last month, goes to mediation Nov. 26 with a legal strike/lock-out date following two days later.
The main issue, despite the fact they are the lowest-paid of five surrounding health units, is the nurses want to continue to work in specialized areas like other health professionals, bargaining unit president and registered nurse Diane Lockman said.
“We want to continue to keep our community safe by continuing to work in the roles we have the skills to be in,” she said at the picket.
Asked how far apart the two sides are, Lockman said the union is willing to come to the table willing to make compromises to reach a settlement. “If the employer chooses to do the same, we won’t be that far apart.”
Peterborough Public Health “remains committed to bargaining in good faith and working toward a new contract,” operations director Larry Stinson stated. “We will be continuing our discussions with ONA when we meet with the mediator on Nov. 26 to achieve a fair and respectful agreement for all.”
Wednesday’s information picket was the second this month organized by the nurses, who also hoisted signs outside the Peterborough Memorial Centre prior to the Nov. 6 Petes game against the Kitchener Rangers.
“Our nurses believe strongly that the community deserves to get maximum benefit of the specialized education our highly educated and skilled nurses possess,” ONA president and registered nurse Vicki McKenna said.
“Our individual public health nurses want to put their specialized skills to the best use possible to keep the people of the community safer and well.”
The ONA represents more than 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, clinics and industry.
Nurses must be able to fulfil their roles and meet the complex health needs of residents of Curve Lake, Hiawatha First Nation and Peterborough city and county, McKenna stated.
“We know the community supports our hard-working, dedicated nurses. We remain optimistic that the board of health will begin to understand the need for a respectful contract that enables our members to do the work they are so qualified to do and so passionate about.”