ONA Deeply Disappointed as Health Unit Employer Walks Away From New Talks Leaving the Community at Risk of a Measles Outbreak

WINDSOR-ESSEX COUNTY, March 27, 2019 – The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) and its more than 80 Nurse Practitioners, Public Health Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit are deeply disappointed that new talks with the employer have already failed.

“We had expected that this employer would come to the table prepared to bargain with us,” said ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. “Unfortunately, this employer had no intention of actually bargaining in good faith and walked away from the table in less than an hour.”

McKenna notes that the nurses have been on the picket line since March 8 in their quest for an equitable collective agreement. The employer has refused to negotiate a respectful wage increase for the nurses that is equitable with increases awarded to male-dominated professionals in the municipality.

“Our highly educated nurses are alarmed that the employer seems willing to continue to risk the health and well-being of this community rather than recognize the value of our members,” says McKenna.

The nurses continue on the picket lines and continue to urge the health unit to return to the bargaining table.

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.

For more information:

Sheree Bond (416) 964-8833, ext. 2430; cell: (416) 986-8240; shereeb@ona.org

Ken Marciniec (416) 964-8833, ext. 2306; cell: (416) 803-6066; kenm@ona.org