Public Health Nurses Voice Their Concerns for Patient Care
Nurses' radio ads stress the need for public health services to be restored in the communities
THUNDER BAY, ON, Nov. 2, 2018 /CNW/ - Radio ads featuring Thunder Bay District public health nurses began airing on local radio stations Country 105 (CKTG-FM) and 99.9 The Bay (CJUK-FM) Friday morning. This is the latest effort by 58 Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) members to get back to work caring for and protecting their communities' health since they were forced onto the picket line by their employer nearly three weeks ago.
"Having a new baby can be stressful and overwhelming, and I am the only support that some families have," said Kayla, RN, a public health nurse in the Thunder Bay District Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Program who is the voice for one of the ads. "But right now I'm not available to help because public health nurses have been forced out of work by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit since October 16. It's time for fairness for public health nurses."
Thunder Bay public health nurses, who have been without a contract for nearly two years, are asking for a fair collective agreement that recognizes they do the same work as other public health nurses throughout the province.
"It's shocking that this employer, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, hasn't come back to the negotiating table to do their part getting public health nurses back to work so these important community health services can be restored," said Vicki McKenna, RN, ONA President. "The health of our communities is the foundation of our health-care system and without the foundation, supported by public health, it will crumble. This is not good news for the citizens who are served by this health unit.
"ONA has been very clear right from the beginning that we are prepared to negotiate," said McKenna. "Our public health nurses understand the critical importance of the work they do and the need for community health supports. With an active Tuberculosis outbreak underway, let's all hope the Thunder Bay District Board of Health does too."
All four of the radio spots end with a request for community members to help public health nurses get back to work by sending a message to the Thunder Bay District Board of Health at http://www.ona.org/tbay
The four radio ads are available online:
https://www.ona.org/ona-healthy-babies/
https://www.ona.org/ona-street-nurse/
https://www.ona.org/ona-sexual-health-nurse/
https://www.ona.org/ona-public-health-nurse/
ONA is the union representing 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, the community, clinics and industry.
SOURCE Ontario Nurses Association
Ontario Nurses' Association: Ken Marciniec, [email protected], 416-964-1979 ext.2306, 416-803-6066 (cell); Katherine Russo, [email protected], 416-964-1979 ext.2214.
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