PrintUNA President urges CNA to retract its position statement on Influenza Immunization of Nurses
UNA President Heather Smith has written the following letter to Canadian Nurses Association President Barbara Mildon asking that the CNA retract its adoption of its position statement on Influenza Immunization of Nurses.
December 6, 2012
Ms. Barbara Mildon
President
Canadian Nurses Association
50 Driveway
Ottawa, ON K2P 1E2
Dear Ms. Mildon;
On behalf of more than 25,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses, student nurses, and allied health workers represented by United Nurses of Alberta, I ask that the Canadian Nurses Association retract its adoption of its position statement on Influenza Immunization of Nurses.
As President of UNA, I am deeply concerned with the motion passed at the November 28 CNA Board of Directors meeting supporting mandatory immunization as a requirement of employment.
I am disappointed that the CNA Board of Directors did not seek the expertise of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU). UNA shares the concerns identified by the CFNU regarding the potential impact this motion could have on the workplace and Occupational Health and Safety legislation.
Unions, colleges, and associations across Canada strive to effectively represent Registered Nurses, this action undermines efforts to do so in a cohesive manner. Further estranging Registered Nurses from the CNA and our College and Association in Alberta only serves to weaken the voice of Registered Nurses.
Sincerely,
Heather Smith
President
United Nurses of Alberta
cc. Dianne Dyer - President, CARNA
