30 professionals face safety risks due to cuts: ONA president
Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) public health nurses working for Peterborough Public Health went to conciliation on Oct. 9, trying to avoid being forced to strike, said the union.
The 30 registered nurses Peterborough, Ont., perform highly specialized work to ensure the safety of more than 130,000 members of the public and face serious safety issues due to nursing shortages, said ONA.
“Our proud and tireless group of dedicated health-care professionals have already seen serious cuts in nursing hours, with positions being temporarily filled or left vacant for long periods of time,” said Vicki McKenna, ONA president. “With the early influenza season now here, it is imperative that the citizens of Peterborough not be put further at risk.”
“Respect our highly specialized public health nurses by coming to conciliation and negotiating a contract that continues to respect their autonomy and choice within these specialties to ensure the public’s safety,” said McKenna.
Peterborough Public Health nurses provide services to communities, families and individuals. They are responsible for promoting healthy living choices, preventing illness and injuries, and protecting residents from infectious disease outbreaks, including influenza, said the union.
ONA represents 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, said ONA.
