Elgin St. Thomas Public Health Nurses Heading to Conciliation: Nurses seeking new collective agreement
ST. THOMAS, ON, Oct. 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Thirty-six public health nurses and registered nurses working for the Elgin St. Thomas Public Health Unit are heading to conciliation tomorrow in an attempt to reach a new collective agreement with their employer. The highly trained and skilled registered nurses are members of the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA).
"Public health nurses excel in what they do," said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Our highly educated nurses work to monitor for infectious diseases in the community, promote healthy living, and maintain wellness of individuals, families and communities. Our caring and dedicated nurses work in clinics, illness prevention programs, in your schools and other places in the community. Public health nurses provide home visits and follow up for families with newborns, immunizations and sexual health clinics," she said.
"In a community with multiple health challenges and where public health plays such a vital role, the employer needs to come to the table and recognize the importance of public health nurses, and treat them with the respect they deserve," noted Haslam-Stroud. "The value our members bring to this community is beyond question, ensuring that those who live in Elgin St. Thomas receive the education, counseling, services and health monitoring that gives them the best chance of living in a healthy community."
The nurses have been working without a contract since March 31, 2016. Conciliation talks begin October 13.
ONA is the union representing 62,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as more than 14,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses
SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association
For further information: Ontario Nurses' Association, Sheree Bond, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2430; cell: (416) 986-8240; [email protected]; Ruth Featherstone, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2267; [email protected]
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