Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Nurses Vote to Accept New Offer

WINDSOR, May 8, 2019 – After a two-month strike, more than 80 Nurse Practitioners, Public Health Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit have voted to accept a new contract.

The agreement was reached with the assistance of a mediator yesterday. The Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) members were provided details of the new offer this morning and voted to accept it early this afternoon. The employer must still vote on ratifying the deal.

“Our members want to thank the community for their enormous patience and support during the past two months,” says Vicki McKenna, RN, ONA President. “Members of the public came out and joined our nurses on the picket lines, donated funds to help keep our nurses afloat, brought hot drinks and food, supported the nurses’ community fundraising efforts, and most importantly, expressed their support for the work our members do.

“Our nurses hope to be able to return to work to do what they care about – ensuring that their community is healthy and well,” said ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN.

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) 986-8240; shereeb@ona.org

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