Windsor-Essex County Public Health Nurses Vote Against Tentative Agreement - Strike Continues

WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY, ON, April 2, 2019 /CNW/ - More than 80 public health nurses voted against ratifying a tentative agreement with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit this morning.

"We are disappointed that this strike will continue, and that our dedicated nurses are not yet able to go back to doing what they care so deeply about – working to ensure the health and well-being of their communities," said Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) President Vicki McKenna, RN.

The nurses will continue to use their time on the picket line to organize events to support their community – during the strike, to date, they have led a diaper drive and donated more than 17,000 diapers to The Downtown Mission to support families in need. The nurses have also sponsored a community blood drive and helped Canadian Blood Services surpass its goal of reaching 116 per cent of their daily blood collection goal. Last week, the nurses also volunteered at the Street Help Homeless Centre, with three nurses cooking per shift to feed the homeless.

This week, the nurses have challenged their colleagues at the Windsor Regional Hospital to bring personal care products to the picket line in Windsor, which in turn will be donated to two local organizations – New Beginnings and The Bridge Youth Resource Centre – both of which support at-risk youth in the community. The community is also invited to drop off toiletries such as deodorant, baby wipes, toothpaste, shampoo, and other items at the Ouellette picket line on April 4 and 5 between 10 am and 2 pm. On Friday, April 5 at 2 pm, the health unit's Bargaining Unit President, Barb Deter, and ONA's Windsor Regional Hospital Bargaining Unit President Donna MacInnis, will tally up the donations and declare the winner of the challenge.

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.

Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses

SOURCE Ontario Nurses' Association

Sheree Bond, [phone], ext. 2430; cell: [phone]; [email protected]; Ken Marciniec, [phone], ext. 2306; cell: [phone]; [email protected]

Related Links

www.ona.org