Local ONA President speaks about conditions which led to nursing strike action
Last week, the 50 registered nurses, public health nurses, and registered practical nurses of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health who provide care and services for around 200,000 area residents began strike action. They have been without a collective agreement since December.
Joshua Davidson Marcon, president of the local Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) bargaining unit, spoke about his frustrations, including his management’s rejection of voluntary arbitration, and a compensation mandate that leaves female dominated professions at a disadvantage.
“The members almost unanimously…voted no for the offer, also before we were presented with a final offer, we offered the option of going to voluntary arbitration…unfortunately the employer denied that request,” said Davidson Marcon.
The management of Hastings Prince Edward Public Health were unable to respond by the time of this story’s airing. On August 28, they released a press release in general response, to which the ONA further responded.
