Windsor-Essex County, Ont., nurses on strike

Reject final offer, despite mediation: ONA

Windsor-Essex County, Ont., nurses on strike
The nurse provide services to almost 500,000 Windsor-Essex County residents, said the union. GOOGLE STREET VIEW

More than 80 nurse practitioners, public health nurses and registered practical nurses in Windsor-Essex County, Ont., went on strike on March 8, after rejecting the employer’s final offer.

Mediation efforts failed to result in a new collective agreement, said the union.

“It is beyond ironic that a day meant to celebrate the contributions of women around the world has our highly educated, dedicated public health nurses walking the picket line, fighting for respect from their employer,” said Vicki McKenna, ONA president.

The nurses have worked without a contract since March 31, 2018. They had been optimistic that an agreement could be reached during mediation held on Feb. 28 and tried talking to the health unit’s negotiators again on March 7, according to ONA.

“Municipal workers in this county in male-dominated professions, such as police and firefighters, are receiving far better contracts with regard to wages than our female-dominated professionals,” said McKenna.

The nurse provide services to almost 500,000 Windsor-Essex County residents, 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.

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