Peterborough Public Health, nurses reach deal

Strike or lockout could have happened today

Peterborough Public Health has reached a tentative agreement with its registered nurses, averting a possible strike or lockout that could have began Wednesday.

The deal was reached after a “long day” of mediation on Monday and is one that “our bargaining team can feel good about taking to their membership,” Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) president and registered nurse Vicki McKenna said.

“That was really key … we’ll hear later on how they make out,” she said, adding that members were planning to meet later on Tuesday.

The new deal must be ratified by both sides. The board of health and ONA members are expected to have ratification votes before the end of the week.

“With the success of last night’s mediation session, I am pleased to announce that pending ratification by both parties, we are hopeful that public health services in the community will not be disrupted,” medical officer of health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra stated.

The 31 local nurses are relieved by Tuesday’s news, McKenna said, pointing out that they don’t have access to arbitration like their colleagues in hospitals, for example.

“If they don’t reach a deal … they get locked out or are on strike on a picket line,” she said. “A strike was not something they were hoping for.”

Details won’t be made public until after the votes, but bargaining unit president and registered nurse Diane Lockman said previously the main sticking point was that nurses

want to continue to work in specialized areas like other health professionals.

“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 during a Nov. 14 information picket held before the monthly board of health meeting at the health unit’s Jackson Square headquarters.

It was the second held by nurses, who also hoisted signs outside the Peterborough Memorial Centre prior to the Nov. 6 Peterborough Petes game against the Kitchener Rangers.

The nurses have been without a contract since October 2017. The contract dispute went to conciliation early last month and mediation on Monday, with a strike/lockout date set for 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

Last week, the health unit announced contingency plans to maintain essential services in the event of a labour disruption.