Nurses across Canada urged to support striking public health nurses in Ontario

A message from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions:

Linda Silas, President of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), launched a campaign of solidarity with Local 7 of the Ontario Nurses' Association. Speaking at the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses in Moosejaw, SK, Silas called on all Canadian nurses to stand together with public health nurses.

23 public health nurses from Haldimand and Norfolk County, Ontario, have been on strike since Saturday. Their issues will be familiar to all public health nurses: parity in wages and benefits with other health professionals, job security, and reductions in the qualifications required to do the job.

Parity in wages and benefits is not just a question of basic fairness. Gaps in compensation cause difficulty with the retention of nurses in public health care roles, leading to poorer working conditions and ultimately a reduction of services and safety for the public.

Yesterday, the employer stooped to intimidation, videotaping the nurses and calling police officers to the picket line. "Such bully tactics have no place in an adult discussion about what services we are providing to patients, who should be providing those services, and what they should be paid," said Silas. "What exactly did they think these 23 nurses would do?"

The CFNU is asking nurses across Canada to send a message to the employer of these courageous nurses. Please send your message now!

In solidarity always,
Linda Silas