Norfolk County Unnecessarily Spending Health Tax Dollars on Strike: Security guards, porta-potties, lawyers and videotaping among expenditures

HALDIMAND-NORFOLK, ON, April 29, 2012 /CNW/ - Norfolk County is spending tax dollars on unnecessary expenditures during the now week-long strike of Public Health Nurses instead of investing in the health care of Haldimand-Norfolk citizens.

"I am a resident of this community as well as the President of ONA," says Haslam-Stroud, "and I am appalled at how extreme the measures have been to intimidate our nurses, public health care workers and invade the privacy of our residents."

Haslam-Stroud says that the County has hired security guards, lawyers, brought in porta-potties and even has private security guards videotaping public health clients. In addition, management - including County Manager Keith Robicheau and General Manager of Health and Social Services, Patricia Moore, RN, are provoking and intimidating CUPE health care workers and the Public Health Nurses on the picket line.

"Thankfully, our community has been very, very supportive of the Public Health Nurses," says Haslam-Stroud. "So many residents have come out to bring us hot coffee and food, have walked alongside us to show support and have indicated their support as they have driven past."

In addition, Haslam-Stroud notes that there has been great support from local seniors, other health care workers, nurses from across Ontario and Canada, and other unions including the United Steelworkers, SEIU, CUPE and Ontario's teachers.

"Especially for nurses, being forced by Norfolk County council to strike is simply awful," she said. "As nurses, our purpose in life is caring for others, and our hearts go out to our clients as this unnecessary situation continues. It's even more difficult knowing that this employer seems determined to use our taxpayer dollars to intimidate not just nurses, but also invade the privacy of our clients - they are videotaping them as they enter the Public Health Unit and Ontario Works."

ONA is the union representing 59,000 front-line RNs and allied health professionals and more than 13,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario communities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, industry and clinics.

Ontario Nurses' Association, Sheree Bond, [phone], [email protected]

www.ona.org; www.Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses