KINGSTON, April 21, 2016 – Registered nurses (RNs) working for Providence Care-St. Mary’s of the Lake and Mental Health Services have voted convincingly to make ONA their union.
“ONA is delighted to welcome the Providence Centre – Mental Health Services RNs to join with the St. Mary’s of the Lake RNs in ONA,” said President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. “ONA is Canada’s largest nursing union, and nurses know the issues facing our profession and what they mean to patients. As a union of nurses working for nurses, we are highly focused on ensuring our members have workplaces that support their goal of providing safe, quality patient care.”
With the merger of Providence Care – Mental Health Services and St. Mary’s of the Lake facilities, a vote to select which union would represent them was held for the roughly 230 RNs, as ordered by the Ministry of Labour. The RNs began voting for the union they wished to represent them on Tuesday this week; voting wrapped up today.
Haslam-Stroud says that ONA is proud of the very professional campaign it ran, based on a straightforward discussion of RN issues. “I am also very proud of the services, support and successes that ONA has achieved for our skilled and dedicated front-line RNs. As RNs, we know that safe staffing levels, safe workplaces and excellent patient care are what every nurse wants to achieve.
“These RNs are part of a vibrant profession and a powerful union,” said Haslam-Stroud.
Canada’s nurses would like to congratulate ONA and welcome these new memers to the CFNU.
Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; Twitter.com/OntarioNurses
SOURCE Ontario Nurses’ Association
For further information: Ontario Nurses’ Association: Sheree Bond, (416) 986-8240; shereeb@ona.org; Ken Marciniec, (416) 964-8833, ext. 2306; cell: (416) 803-6066; kenm@ona.org