Monday, April 21, 2014

International Workers’ Day - May 1

Come join the local labour unions as we as recognize the sacrifices made in Windsor that won us the labour rights we have today!

Organizers are planning a Labour Village and parage to celebrate this year’s May 1st. The march starts outside the Art Gallery of Windsor at 4:30pm and will conclude at the Labour Village built at 547 Victoria Ave., which will be open from 6-8pm. Join your colleagues from Local 8 for the parade.

Local 8 will be manning a table and promoting the morenurses.ca campaign. We are looking for volunteers to assist with this event.  Please contact Jo-Dee Brown through the Local 8 website (local8.ona.org) to volunteer or to find out more information!

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Local 8 Nurses Week Awards

Local 8 is now accepting nominations for Local 8 Nurse of the Year 2014 and applications for the Lori Dupont Education Bursary. These forms may be found on our website: Local8.ona.org under the Nurses Week Awards calendar event. The deadline to submit these forms are May 1, 2014 so don't delay.

Winners will be announced at the Local 8 Nurses Week Dinner May 12th. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased from your Bargaining Unit Presidents for only $10.00.

Sunday, April 6, 2014

ONA President's Message "I Will Never Give Up - But I Need Your Help!"

As your elected President, there is nothing I would have liked more than to be able to announce details of a negotiated hospital-sector agreement this month. Unfortunately, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) had other ideas.

Despite the arduous efforts of our Hospital Central Negotiating Team on behalf of our 58,000-plus members, the OHA was unwilling to negotiate an agreement that reflected our value to the health-care system.

As I'm sure you have heard, the Ontario Hospital Association tabled outrageous and regressive concession proposals, including a three-per-cent wage cut. The effects of these rollbacks would include more than a $26,000 reduction in wages over eight years for a new nursing graduate, and a rollback in wages from three to seven per cent for any experienced nurse who changes employers.
Unfortunately, our patients would bear the brunt of this: fewer nurses working in Ontario will deplete the high-quality care our patients deserve.

Let me be clear about one thing: ONA will never, never, never give up! Our strong More Nurses Campaign is resonating with the public and our supporters. Ontarians are getting the message: Ontario needs more registered nurses - not cuts.

On March 19, hundreds of members, ONA staff and supporters attended a rally at Queen's Park to spotlight the impact of registered nursing cuts on patient care. Many media outlets -- including television, radio and print as well as online through social media -- captured our strong, clear message: Ontario needs more nurses.

Here's how you can help: As patient advocates, we must all speak out about these cuts to our family, friends, neighbours and to our elected representatives. The more conversations we have about this issue, the more aware Ontarians will be about the devastating impact nursing cuts have in health care.
Please visit either www.morenurses.ca or www.ona.org/morenurses to find resources, information and tools to help you have these conversations.

Can I count on you?

In Solidarity,
Linda

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Local 8 Celebrates Nurses Week

May 12 - 18 is Nurses Week! 

Nurses Week is a time to recognize the year-round dedication and achievements of Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) and Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and to increase awareness of their contributions to the well-being of Canadians.

Local 8 kicks of this week long celebration with a dinner for current members, retired members and future members (nursing students).  Our special guest is Linda Haslam-Stroud, Provincial President.

Tickets can be purchased from Local 8 Bargaining Unit Presidents until May 6th.

For more details regarding this event - please see our website: http://local8.ona.org