Media Releases

New information about the latest cuts of RNs at The Scarborough Hospital is further evidence that the Ontario government is cutting health care. The Ontario Nurses' Association is calling for a province-wide moratorium on the elimination of nursing positions.

The Independent Assessment Committee called in by the Ontario Nurses’ Association has made 68 recommendations to address the concerns of registered nurses about staffing in Lakeridge Health Oshawa’s ER.

In the quest to cut costs and balance hospital budgets, Ontario hospitals are sacrificing the health of registered nurses, according to new research.

Emergency room registered nurses at Sault Area Hospital support management’s decision to increase RN staffing at the Sault Area Hospital’s emergency department.

“The cuts being made to hospitals in the government’s road to health care reform will leave sinkholes that will hurt patients,” says Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association.

Sixty-thousand Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) members are preparing to celebrate the invaluable contributions nurses make to health care as Nursing Week 2013 approaches.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) members and directors will participate in Day of Mourning ceremonies across Ontario tomorrow.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) members are gravely concerned about the impact on patient care following the announcement of an additional 25 full-time-equivalent RN cuts at The Ottawa Hospital.

ONA is calling on Humber River Hospital to implement recommendations from a recent Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) as quickly as possible to ensure registered nurses in the emergency departments of the Church and Finch Street sites are able to provide safe patient care.

The National Association of PeriAnesthesia Nurses of Canada (NAPAN©) has added its voice to that of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) in calling on Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital to reinstate registered nurses in the Surgical Pre-admission Clinic. This is the unit where patients are prepared for surgery and assessed for possible surgical and anesthetic risks.

Registered nurses are concerned about unsafe RN staffing levels and patient safety at Kingston General Hospital’s intensive care unit and have taken the relatively rare step of calling for an Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) to review the situation.

The registered nurses who are concerned about unsafe RN staffing levels and patient safety at the Lakeridge Health Oshawa emergency department have called in an Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) to review the issues.

As 140 Public Health Nurses working for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit hold a pre-conciliation strike vote and head to conciliation on March 18, the union representing them is filing an unfair labour practice complaint and a bad faith bargaining complaint against their employer.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is warning that Bluewater Health’s plans to cut 15 registered nurses and not fill a number of currently vacant RN positions will negatively impact patient care.

Public Health Nurses at the Huron County Health Unit are at mediation today, hoping to avert a strike that could begin as soon as tomorrow.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is pleased to see that today’s Speech from the Throne includes promises to build relationships and treat Ontario’s labour force fairly and with respect, to build a strong health care system that expands home care, to evaluate corporate tax compliance to ensure corporations are paying their fair share and to explore an increase in the Employer Health Tax exemption threshold.

Twenty-six Public Health Nurses with the Huron Health Unit may be forced to strike following the failure of contract negotiations. The Public Health Nurses – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association – have been without an agreement since December 31, 2011. They are in a legal strike/lock-out position on March 2.

Public Health Nurses have reached a tentative settlement with the Durham Region Health Department. The 184 registered nurses and nurse practitioners, members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), had been without a contract since March 31, 2012. The tentative agreement was reached last night during conciliation.

Public Health Nurses working for the Durham Region Health Department will hold a pre-conciliation strike vote tomorrow. The 184 registered nurses and nurse practitioners, members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), have been without a contract since March 31, 2012.

Respiratory Therapists and Social Workers working for Lakeridge Health say that the organization is stalling, not negotiating, and that they are being forced into interest arbitration for the fourth time in 12 years.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association’s (ONA) popular ‘Value the Invaluable’ ad campaign is expanding today as new transit shelter ads are unveiled across the province.

Celebrating 40 years of advocacy for the nursing profession and quality patient care is the focus of this week’s gathering of more than 1,000 front-line nurses and allied health professionals attending the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) Biennial Convention.

Today, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is launching a new ad campaign to urge people to value the invaluable skills and care provided by the province’s nurses.

Algoma Public Health Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations today by revealing a new banner marking the milestone. ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, was joined by the board of directors and staff today at the union’s Grenville Street main office in Toronto. Celebrations will continue later this month as 1,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals gather in Toronto for ONA’s Biennial Convention.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is pleased to announce that it has negotiated an agreement with the provincial government to maintain joint control of the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP).

Algoma Public Health Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners may be forced on strike following the failure of conciliation and the failure of the Board of Health to provide a mandate to bargain to the employer.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is rejecting a report released yesterday that calls for the wholesale closure of Ontario’s 14 Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) that coordinate Ontarians’ home care.

As the province continues down the road of decreased public spending in health care and other public services through initiatives such as imposed wage freezes, forced pension erosion as well as sweeping labour law reform, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is releasing a new research paper showing the wealth-creating role of public spending on health, education and social services in overall economic production.

Algoma Public Health Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners are considering next steps as they head to conciliation in the quest for a new contract.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) vows to protect patient care in the face of the reckless government attack on nurses announced by Finance Minister Duncan on Wednesday.

Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) members across the province are poised to celebrate Labour Day 2012. More than 3,000 nurses and allied health professionals have approached ONA and joined the union in 2012. Prior to forming our union, RNs in Ontario were treated disrespectfully, earned very little pay and had no say in many of the decisions that impacted their patients' care and health outcomes.

The increase in the tax rate for those with incomes of $500,000 or more per year, the pause on giving away more tax revenue to large corporations in exchange for nothing, and the removal of Schedule 30's unnecessary changes that would attack hospital workers' right to a fair contract negotiation process are good news for Ontario nurses, their patients and all Ontarians.

An Independent Assessment Committee (IAC), called in by the registered nurses (RNs) at Sault Area Hospital's new Emergency Department (ED), has supported their claims that RN staffing levels are insufficient to meet the needs of the large geographic area served by the hospital, and that patient care has been compromised.

Yesterday, a majority of Members of Provincial Parliament on the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario voted to strike a number of schedules from the massive omnibus provincial budget bill. “Contrary to what the Premier is saying, amending the budget is exactly what MPPs were elected to do,” said Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association.

Registered nurses (RNs) working for Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) fear their employer is not telling the community the whole story as it cuts RN positions from units where seriously ill patients are cared for.

While strongly supportive of the work of the Long Term Care Task Force on Resident Care and Safety, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is saddened to report that none of the recommendations in its final report released earlier today are new.

The Queens Gardens long-term care residence is gutting its complement of registered nurses (RNs), risking the health and safety of its elderly, vulnerable residents.

Almost 60,000 registered nurses, nurse practitioners and registered practical nurses – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) – are set to begin an annual celebration of their profession as Nursing Week 2012 kicks off.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) and Norfolk County reached a tentative agreement late last night that may end the 12-day-old Public Health Nurses’ strike in Haldimand-Norfolk. ONA members will be meeting this afternoon to vote on the tentative agreement. The nurses could be back on the job as early as tomorrow. ONA is recommending acceptance of the deal.

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 Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, “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.”
 

In a bid to help Ontarians to value how they view public-sector nurses who provide them and their loved ones with high-quality health care, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is launching an ad campaign today in communities across the province.

The Corporation of Norfolk County has forced the 25 public health nurses – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) – on strike after insisting on gutting their collective agreement and refusing to negotiate a contract that respects the value the nurses provide to the Haldimand-Norfolk community. A special council meeting was held this afternoon where council rejected a counterproposal from ONA, forcing the strike, which deprives the community of their public health services.

Public Health Nurses working for the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit are holding a strike vote today following the breakdown of negotiations with The Corporation of Norfolk County. The nurses – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) – have been in negotiations since last October; their contract expired June 30, 2011.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), the union representing front-line registered nurses and allied health professionals in this province, is asking whether the 2012 provincial budget will protect patients and quality nursing care that Ontarians need.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) says the findings of the Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) show that the concerns of registered nurses about declining patient care in Peterborough Regional Health Centre’s haemodialysis unit were valid.

Staff of the Peterborough County-City Health Unit are speaking out to stop cuts to front-line health promotion and disease prevention services for the community. They question why the cuts are necessary when the Health Unit’s funding has not changed.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) believes the secrecy of the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s unilateral decision to close its Walkerton office should raise alarms for local politicians and the communities who rely on access to public health services.

Nurse leaders from across Canada will be available to speak to the media during the Federal/ Provincial/ Territorial Health Ministers meeting, November 24 and 25 in Halifax.

A three-day hearing of an Independent Assessment Committee has wrapped up in Peterborough and now registered nurses at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) will await its recommendations.

Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) Grey Bruce Public Health Nurses and Registered Nurses providing care for the Grey Bruce community have narrowly voted to accept a contract offer from their employer.

In response to the eviction notices delivered to the occupiers of St. James Park on Tuesday, the largest nurses’ union in Canada is calling on Toronto City Council to prevent an eviction of Occupy Toronto protesters by police.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) Grey Bruce Public Health Nurses and Registered Nurses providing care for the Grey Bruce community are entering mediation on November 14 and 15 and will be in a legal strike position on November 16.

More than 3,000 Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals working in 10 of Ontario's Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) have voted to ratify a new three-year contract.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN is pleased to announce that a tentative settlement has been reached for 3,000 Registered Nurses and Allied Health Professionals working in 10 of Ontario’s Community Care Access Centres (CCACs).

Over 3,000 Registered Nurses and allied health professionals of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) who work as Case Managers, Placement Coordinators, Nurse Practitioners and as other health professionals at 10 of Ontario's 14 Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) have given their negotiating team an overwhelming 95-per-cent strike mandate.

Approximately 3,000 members of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) - Case Managers, Placement Coordinators, Nurse Practitioners and other health professionals from 10 of Ontario's 14 Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) - are in the process of taking strike votes in advance of their last week of bargaining.

The Independent Assessment Committee called in to investigate concerns of Lakeridge Health Oshawa surgical unit RNs has made a series of 18 recommendations, including one that calls for an increase in registered nurses for this unit.

An arbitration award was released yesterday setting out the terms and conditions for a new three-year collective agreement for more than 50,000 Ontario registered nurses and allied health professionals – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) – and some 137 Ontario hospitals.

To mark Mother's Day and the beginning of Nursing Week 2011, the Ontario Nurses' Association is releasing new research that focuses on the value of care provided mainly by women -- including nurses -- and includes some new wage data and recommendations.

The Ontario Nurses' Association's 57,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals and more than 12,000 nursing student affiliates are preparing to kick off Nursing Week 2011 with a range of events and activities to recognize nurses' special contributions to health care.

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is today remembering the registered nurses, allied health professionals and thousands of other Ontario workers who have lost their lives or suffered injury as the province marks the 2011 Day of Mourning.

Registered nurses employed at Trillium Health Centre have overwhelmingly voted yes to join the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA), the largest nurses' union in Canada. RNs at Trillium have sent a strong message to their employer that they expect respect, wages, benefits and a quality of work life that reflects the value that they provide to their patients and to the healthcare system.

Social Workers and Registered Respiratory Therapists at Lakeridge Health are heading to arbitration on April 11 to obtain a fair and equitable contract that respects the important work they do for their patients.

The Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) hearing into the Renal Hemodialysis Unit at Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has provided recommendations that confirm Registered Nurses (RNs) have been required to perform more work than is consistent with proper patient care.

Registered nurses (RNs) working at the Lakeridge Health's Oshawa 36-bed in-patient surgical unit have taken their concerns about RN staffing levels being inadequate for safe patient care to the next level - an Independent Assessment Committee Hearing will investigate the matter in a hearing to be held April 5 to 7.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has provided a comprehensive submission to Ontario’s Rural and Northern Health Care Panel with 13 recommendations to improve access to health outcomes in some of the province’s most underprivileged areas.

Registered Nurses (RNs) with the North Bay Regional Health Centre have overwhelmingly voted to make the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) their union.

Bargaining between the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) and the North West Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) has broken down, potentially leaving those in the northwest without access to a range of health care services that these health professionals arrange and coordinate.

Our hospitals remain the most efficient in the country, and front-line registered nurses are concerned that a 1.5-per-cent increase in operating budgets will not be enough to provide the acute services that patients require in hospitals.

Sports media are used to covering stories of athletes who earn multi-million-dollar salaries and are worshipped by their fans. Today, many Ontario commuters and pedestrians will see a new campaign that portrays Ontario registered nurses as health care champs

Many Ontario commuters and pedestrians will see a new transit shelter ad today featuring health care "champs" – a winning team of registered nurses – on the cover of a mock sports magazine celebrating a great shift.

The innovative and groundbreaking sports-themed ad campaign launched to remind Ontarians to value the priceless health care skills, leadership and knowledge that registered nurses (RNs) bring to the system is expanding today. The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) ad campaign – Value the Invaluable – will introduce a new radio ad today in 12 Ontario markets; transit shelter and on-line ads will follow.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) urges the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to move quickly to implement recommendations contained in a new report from provincial ombudsman André Marin released yesterday.

Members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) are contacting federal Finance Minister The Hon. Jim Flaherty today, reminding him that the majority of Canadians support the labour movement’s plan to expand the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). “Minister Flaherty should be ashamed of himself for turning his back on the majority of Ontarians in favour of the few bank and insurance company executives who stand to profit from his pooled-savings gimmick,” said Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association.

The Independent Assessment Committee hearing into Sault Area Hospital’s hemodialysis unit will be held February 8, 9 and 10. The review was called for by members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) who identified ongoing professional practice and workload concerns impacting patient care. The Independent Assessment Committee (IAC) will examine RN staffing levels and make recommendations.

A nurse’s autographed uniform and a “Most Valuable Player” sports collector card with the image of a nurse are the centrepieces of phase two of a new Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) ad campaign, urging Ontario residents to value the priceless health care skills, leadership and knowledge that registered nurses (RNs) bring to the system. The images are appearing in a series of transit shelter ads located in cities across the province today.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) Board of Directors has removed its nursing censure of the Niagara Health System (NHS) effective today. “We are pleased to see that progress has been made at NHS, although there are still significant issues to be addressed,” says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN.

Ontario residents will begin hearing a new and innovative radio campaign starting Monday as the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) asks them to value the priceless health care skills, leadership and knowledge that registered nurses (RNs) bring to the system.

One-thousand registered nurses and allied health professionals are gathering in Toronto on Tuesday to attend the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) Biennial Convention. The RNs and health care professionals from across Ontario are leaders in their local communities and politically active ONA members.

The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) is deeply concerned about the latest round of registered nursing cuts at Peterborough Regional Health Centre. Yesterday the hospital eliminated more front-line registered nurses (RNs), bringing the total number of RN cuts to 153 as part of its "hospital improvement plan" and seriously impacting the quality of patient care.

Registered nurses, their families and friends will participate in Labour Day parades in many Ontario cities this weekend. "Labour Day and its messages of solidarity have never been more relevant," says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "RNs are being targeted by the government for wage freezes and by their employers for job cuts."

Cuts of registered nurses (RNs) at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) are far more extensive than the hospital has informed the community of and will have a serious impact on patient care.

he Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) credits the cancellation of cuts to registered nurses at London Health Sciences Centre's cancer care program, in large part, to the determination of the community. ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN says she is heartened that the cuts have been stopped, and credits not only the London RNs' efforts to find savings, but the unprecedented public outcry of the community.

Representatives from the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) are at the Centre of Health and Safety in Mississauga today to provide 58 recommendations to the Expert Advisory Panel to Review Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety System. ONA's review of the state of occupational health and safety (OH&S) found serious deficits in protecting health care workers from illness and injury - and the risk extends to patient safety as well.

“We’re thrilled to welcome these 60 dedicated RNs to ONA,” said President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “Nurses in this province face so many challenges now, and ONA is committed to advocating for our members so that they, in turn, can focus on providing the quality care that their patients deserve.”

“Chatham-Kent’s mission statement is: Caring people, caring for people,” notes Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA). “How ironic that Chatham-Kent decision-makers have chosen Nursing Week to deliver the news to our skilled and dedicated registered nurses that they will no longer be able to care for their patients.”

“Nursing Week is a time to recognize the invaluable contribution RNs make to the health-care system,” notes ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “But in Ontario, our skilled, professional RNs have been ‘recognized’ far too often as a target for cost-cutting exercises and lost their positions to balance the bottom line. ONA is fighting nursing cuts with our Cutting Nurses, Cutting Care campaign.”

Noting that RNs in Ontario are continuing to experience nursing cuts and rising workplace pressure, ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, says this is the week – which marks Florence Nightingale’s birthday – to put the spotlight on the priceless contributions that nurses make.

Responding to criticisms about significant cuts to registered nurse (RN) positions at the Sault Area Hospital (SAH), both the hospital and Mr. David Orazietti, the local Liberal Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), have issued media releases attacking nurses since Saturday.

“It’s vital that we pause to remember the colleagues we have lost,” said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “RNs are among the most injured and ill of all professionals because of the high occupational health and safety hazards we encounter daily while caring for our patients.”

“If these cuts proceed, the patients of the Peterborough community will suffer the consequences,” said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “We are deeply worried about the erosion of RNs in this hospital and across the province. In the past 12 months alone, 2,045 nursing positions equaling more than four million hours per year of RN care have been cut.”

“Front-line registered nurses certainly share the government’s concern about the rising costs of pharmaceuticals, which have been consuming a large portion of precious health-care system dollars,” said Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “Our dedicated, nurses are worried that for some time the savings have been focused on cutting nursing care hours for our patients, impacting their health outcomes with little attention paid to other costs in the system.”

“We are very pleased that the Independent Assessment Committee has heard the evidence and acknowledged ONA nurses’ concerns – and made 25 recommendations to improve the ability of RNs to provide safe, quality care to Cassellholme residents,” said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN.

“The findings of the Krever Commission showed that the drive for cost efficiencies can jeopardize blood safety, yet it looks like that is exactly what Canadian Blood Services is doing – trying to save money while risking the safety of our blood supply,” says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “We can see no other reason for this change.”

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN says that today’s provincial budget means more service and nursing cuts for patients in this province. “Every Ontarian should brace themselves for yet more cuts to the health care they need and count on,” said Haslam-Stroud, following the release of the provincial budget. Base funding for hospitals will increase by just 1.5 per cent for 2010/11.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN says that any government changes to health-care or hospital funding must ensure quality patient care first. ONA believes that a review of and any changes to the Public Hospitals Act must support quality patient care and be made with meaningful input from registered nurses. ONA believes that front-line nurses and communities must have a say in how their hospitals operate.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is warning that cutting the equivalent of almost 10 full-time registered nurses (RNs), closing beds and closing diabetes services and physiotherapy programs at Northumberland Hills Hospital will impact the quality of patient care.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN is expressing deep concerns about the quality of patient care at The Ottawa Hospital following word that the facility is cutting approximately 300,000 hours of RN care per year. The hospital has informed ONA that it is both laying off registered nurses and deleting registered nursing positions. Notice was provided of 70 RN position cuts this week and another 120 RN position deletions, totalling about 300,000 hours per year of RN care lost to our patients.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) is warning that London-area cancer patients will face longer wait times as London Health Sciences Centre cuts five of its 22 full-time and four of its part-time front-line primary care nurses providing outpatient cancer program care. In addition, the hospital has announced that all seven registered nurses (two part-time, five casual) working in the Ontario breast screening program have been eliminated.

Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN is calling for the Ontario government to use limited health-care funding available where it’s going to matter most: improving patients’ health outcomes by preserving registered nursing positions that are being cut as hospitals struggle to balance budgets.

Following more than two years of unsuccessful attempts to convince the management of Cassellholme Home for the Aged in North Bay to fulfill its obligation to rectify staff and supply shortages, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has taken the rare step of calling for an Independent Assessment Committee hearing into RN staffing levels at the facility.

Registered nurses in Ontario are devastated today to learn that the Supreme Court of Canada has denied an appeal of an earlier legal decision regarding responsibility for keeping nurses safe during the SARS outbreak.

Following a long and difficult negotiations process, public health nurses with the Sudbury & District Public Health Unit have reached a tentative settlement with their employer. The nurses – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) – have been working with an expired contract since April 1, 2009.

The 118 public health nurses and nurse practitioners and Sudbury District Public Health officials will go to mediation on December 2 in an effort to avoid a strike and reach a new contract. The public health nurses – members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) – have been working with an expired contract since April and are in a legal strike position as of December 4.

Noting that there is no evidence to support claims that using unskilled, unregulated workers to screen blood donors will not jeopardize the safety of Canada’s blood supply, the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) and other Canadian nurses’ unions are calling for a halt to plans to eliminate nurses from blood donor screening.

The Board of Directors of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has agreed to the request of registered nurses employed by Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (HHSC) to censure their employer.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has won another important arbitration decision related to disability management, with a finding of “bad-faith behaviour” and “reckless” management against Hamilton Health Sciences Centre (HHSC) in the case of an ONA registered nurse who tried to return to work following an illness.

Public health nurses with the Haldimand Norfolk Public Health Unit have voted 90-per-cent in favour of a strike should an October 29 mediation session fail. The nurses, members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA), have been without a contract since March 31, 2009.

Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) at the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH) have voted to make the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) their union. In a vote held earlier this week, the nurses voted overwhelmingly (81 per cent) in favour of joining the provincial nurses’ union.

The Board of Directors of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has approved the lifting of the censure that has been in place against the Bluewater Health Centre since June 2002. “Our members recognize that the workplace and labour relations conflict has continued for more than seven years now,” says ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “Though there have been some improvements in working conditions and labour relations, there continues to be a number of issues identified by our front-line registered nurses with this employer.”