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Before ONA: 1963-1972

1963

College of Nurses established as regulatory body of nursing profession.

1964

Resolution passes at the RNAO annual meeting to achieve collective bargaining for nurses.

1965

Proposed Nurses' Collective Bargaining Act presented to Health Minister Matthew Dymond. About 1,260 members of Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) march on Queen's Park to support Nurses' Collective Bargaining Act. RNAO president is Margaret Page, RN.

  • RNAO members authorize paid staff (employment relations officers) to assist new bargaining units to deal with employers on collective basis
  • Nurses' Association of Halton County Public Health Unit denied certification by municipality on basis of Section 89 of Labour Relations Act-3 loop hole - which allows denial of "legal recognition" for collective bargaining purposes
  • Associations Oxford County Health Unit nurses resign. Conciliation officer appointed and first collective agreement signed.
  • Nurses' Association Halton County and St. Lawrence & Ottawa Valleys public health nurses resign.

Eventually, the PHNs are reinstated and the Nurses' Associations granted certification.

1966

Labour Minister Thomas Eberlee meets with RNAO to discuss province-wide collective bargaining for nurses.

RNAO sponsors the organizing of 34 local nurses' associations in two years.

1967

Some 225 nurses support a Nurses' Central Security Fund under the RNAO. First organizing meeting is held and a protem chairperson, secretary and committee are elected. The nurses adopt a constitution and appoint Lloyd Sharpe as bargaining agent.

1968

Brockville General Hospital nurses go to Arbitration Board for decision on first collective agreement. Board initiates salary system based on seniority, not merit. Hospital ordered to place nurses at proper level.

  • First education workshop sponsored by RNAO and Canadian Nurses' Association is held to teach nurses about collective bargaining.
  • A total of 48 local nurses' associations are organized to participate in collective bargaining through RNAO.
  • RNAO supports the right to strike by those covered under the provision of the Labour Relations Act and where the arbitration process is not available.
  • Nurses' Central Security Fund Committee formed to administer fund for collective bargaining.
  • First grievance arbitration settled in November in nurses' favor.
  • Revised Employment Standards Act: Safe Night Transportation deleted but mandatory maternity leave is added.
1969

Hamilton and District School of Nursing strikes. RNAO grey-lists employer.

  • Anne Gribben, RN, is appointed Director of Employment Relations.
  • Grey-Owen Sound PHNs strike.
  • Nurses' Association of St. Joseph's General, Peterborough, wins Ontario Supreme Court case regarding an Arbitration Board's interpretation of a retroactivity clause originally awarded. Court of Appeals upholds arbitration decision.
  • Public Health Negotiations Committee set up with five members from locals and two RNAO reps. Mandate to negotiate with Departments of Health on behalf of public health nurses.
  • St. Joseph's Hospital, Guelph, arbitration award results in highest salaries paid in any public hospital.
1970

Muskoka-Parry Sound District Health Unit nurses strike.

  • Minister of Labour announces that nurses will be covered by Unemployment Insurance Act.
1971

RNAO collective bargaining program continues to grow with 32 hospitals, 31 public health units and three schools of nursing, representing 80 per cent of PHNs and 22 per cent of eligible hospital nurses.

1972

104 nurses' associations bargaining as individual units on behalf of 13,000 nurses request RNAO form a central union.

  • At annual meeting, RNAO passes motion to establish an independent central body to bargain for nurses.
  • Nurses Central Security Fund holds collective bargaining workshop for more than 90 delegates.
  • "Nurses' Guide to New Unemployment Insurance Act - 1973" is produced by RNAO staff to answer members' questions.