Toronto Grace Health Centre RNs Join ONA: Nurses now members of Canada's
largest nurses' union
TORONTO, June 17 /CNW/ - Registered nurses (RNs) at Toronto Grace Health Centre have voted to join the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), Canada's largest nurses' union.
"We're thrilled to welcome these 60 dedicated RNs to ONA," said President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "Nurses in this province face so many challenges now, and ONA is committed to advocating for our members so that they, in turn, can focus on providing the quality care that their patients deserve."
Nurses at Toronto Grace Health Centre have had a tumultuous year; earlier, the 119-bed hospital was threatened with closure, impacting a community that relied on it for continuing care, rehabilitation and palliative care. The provincial government pledged $15 million to keep the hospital open in a last-minute reprieve in February.
ONA provides its 55,000 front-line registered nurses and allied health professional members with a range of services that includes collective bargaining, representation, advocacy on such issues as workplace violence, professional practice, human rights and health and safety. It is currently running a public awareness ad campaign - Cutting Nurses, Cutting Care - to fight the more than 2,000 RN cuts that Ontario has seen over the past year.
"We very much look forward to representing the RNs at Toronto Grace Health Centre," said Haslam-Stroud. "For almost 37 years, ONA has been the voice of front-line RNs and allied health professionals and I believe our new members can be assured that they made the right choice when they voted yes to ONA."
ONA is the union representing 55,000 front-line registered nurses and allied health professionals and more than 12,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community and industry.
For further information: For further information: Ontario Nurses' Association, Sheree Bond, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2430, Cellular: (416) 986-8240; Ruth Featherstone, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2267
Share this article