Local 8 Nurses Night Dinner - Snapd Windsor Photos

Click the link to see photos from our dinner - Happy Nurses Week to all nurses everywhere!
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Windsor Chrysler nurses make small 'gains' in new deal

Nurses bargained for increased wages and job stability

CBC News 

 Posted: May 05, 2017 12:02 PM ET  

Last Updated: May 05, 2017 12:02 PM ET

The nurses who work at the Fiat Chrysler assembly plant in Windsor have "overwhelmingly" ratified a new contract, according to their union.

Ontario Nurses Association Vice-President Vicki McKenna said the nurses managed to make small "gains" through negotiation.

"They were able to achieve certainly more stability for those nurses who aren't considered full-time or permanent, even though they seem to be, and also some substantive salary increases in that classification because they've been frozen at a salary rate upon hire," she said.

McKenna says there were also some improvements to benefits, but newly-hired nurses at the factory will be part of a less-lucrative pension plan.

Vicki McKenna, vice-president of the Ontario Nursing Association. (CBC)

The registered nurse said the healthcare providers at the plant have an important job caring for the "small town" of 6,500 people who work there.

"They provide day to day health care services, they're on the floor, they have emergency services, they've even delivered a baby there," she said.

The agreement runs through 2020.

 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/windsor-chrysler-nurses-make-small-gains-in-new-deal-1.4101203

Union Leader Recognized!

Innovation Notebook

Hamilton Spectator

By Joanna Frketich
May 01, 2017 

Union leader recognized

Hamilton nurse and provincial union leader Linda Haslam-Stroud is being given a lifetime achievement award by her peers for her advocacy.

Haslam-Stroud is the longest-serving president of the Ontario Nurses' Association at 14 years and counting.

What started as a quest to get her wedding day off has since become 38 years of leadership in the union representing 64,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals as well as 16,000 students.

The St. Joseph's Healthcare renal-transplant nurse is being recognized by the Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario which advocates for the profession.

The professional association particularly praised the campaign Haslam-Stroud spearheaded in October 2015 called "The Truth Hurts" to stop the elimination of registered nurse positions in hospitals. In addition, she's spoken out against workplace violence, fought for pay equity and addressed privacy concerns for vulnerable groups.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Linda Haslam-Stroud

This award is bestowed on long-standing members of the RNAO who exemplify outstanding contributions to the profession of nursing in the areas of practice, education, administration or research, at the provincial, national and/or international levels. This includes activities that promote the association among nursing colleagues, the government and other health-care partners.

Linda Haslam-Stroud says she never imagined she would be the nursing advocate she is today. Provincial president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) for the last 14 years (a total of 38 years as an ONA leader), and an RNAO member since 2002, Linda has made great strides to act as a champion for the profession and for patients. In October 2015, she spearheaded a campaign entitled The Truth Hurts. Nurses know. to stop the elimination of RN positions in hospitals. Every year, she also organizes a human rights and equity caucus for nurses to come together to discuss privacy concerns for vulnerable groups such as nurses with mental health issues. She also continues to advocate for issues such as workplace violence and pay equity for nurses. She has worked with RNAO on several important issues, including nursing shortages across the province, and ensuring full-time employment for nurses. “We’re two (RNAO and ONA) very strong organizations with different mandates, but we have a lot in common to improve the work life of nurses and ensure RNs and NPs are appropriately respected and utilized in the health-care system,” she says.

Nursing Week 2017: We are Ontario’s Nurses. Nurses Know

TORONTO – Ontario’s nurses will celebrate their profession during Nursing Week 2017.

Nursing Week will be held May 8 to 14, and the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) has chosen the theme: “We are Ontario’s Nurses. Nurses Know” as they mark the birthday of the world’s most famous nurse, Florence Nightingale and pause to celebrate the skills, education, critical thinking and knowledge they bring to patient care.

“ONA’s 64,000 registered nurses, nurse practitioners, registered practical nurses and more than 16,000 nursing student affiliates are passionate about their profession,” said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “We know that what we do is vital to our patients receiving the quality care they rely on. Nurses have the education, skills, and dedication our patients deserve.”

ONA members across the province will be holding events to mark Nursing Week. Some will be airing advertisements in movie theatres, in local newspapers and radio; others will hold education sessions, information sessions and will celebrate their colleagues at special events. ONA is also launching a new social media campaign today, “Celebrating the Profession,” and urging others to thank a nurse (Nursesknow.ona.org).

Members of ONA’s board of directors, including Haslam-Stroud and First Vice-President Vicki McKenna, will be crossing the province to attend as many member events as possible, conducting site visits and celebrating the vital profession of nursing.

“Ontario nurses face a number of serious challenges in delivering quality patient care,” notes Haslam-Stroud. “RN cuts have left our members challenged by heavy workloads, facing increasing workplace violence, and the profession has been omitted from post-traumatic stress disorder legislation. Yet this week, we will focus instead on the skills, education and compassion that nurses bring to the front lines of patient care.”

Members of the media should watch for media advisories in their communities as ONA representatives visit members.

ONA is the union representing 64,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals, as well as almost 16,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.

Celebrate Nursing Week!

Tentative deal reached between FCA and nurses at Windsor Assembly Plant

http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/tentative-deal-reached-between-fca-and-nurses-at-windsor-assembly-plant

DALSON CHEN, WINDSOR STAR

Published on: May 1, 2017 | Last Updated: May 1, 2017 4:32 PM EDT

A tentative agreement has been reached concerning the 16 nurses who work at the Windsor Assembly Plant.

The Ontario Nurses Association and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles reached the deal on April 28 after long hours of negotiation.

A ratification vote will be held on Thursday.

Unifor Local 444 — representing 6,500 workers at the plant — saying it would respect ONA’s picket line.

The plant’s nurses, represented by ONA Local 8, have been without a contract since Dec. 31.

According to ONA, the nurses fill a critical role at the plant, dealing with employee health as well as medical emergencies.

Three of the 16 nurses are full-time, hired between 1987 and 1992.

The nurses earn $30 per hour. Only the full-time ones receive benefits.

Vicki McKenna, first vice-president of ONA, said a wage increase was one of the points of discussion in the negotiations, as was securing full-time status for more members.

“There are only three that are full-time. The others are all classed as part-time … However, they work full-time hours,” McKenna said. “That was an issue for them.”

dchen@postmedia.com