Nursing staff at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, who are represented by the Ontario Nurses’ Association, have voted to reject a contract offer, leading to a strike.
The strike is set to begin on Monday. Visitors to Hastings Prince Edward Public Health offices should expect to be delayed by a picket line.
The main sticking point with the negotiations has been wages. Nurses have been working without a contract since December.
Fifty nurses working for Hastings Prince Edward Public Health are represented by the Ontario Nurses’ Association.
Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health and CEO at HPEPH, was optimistic that the striking nurses would reconsider the presented offer.
“I want to assure the community that in preparing the offer to our nurses, and throughout negotiations, we have worked diligently to balance their needs with the needs of our other employees and our clients,” said Dr Toumishey. “While we are disappointed that ONA members have chosen to reject our offer, we recognize that it is their legal right to strike.”
While all Hastings Prince Edward Public Health locations will remain open, some services will be disrupted by the strike. A full list of service disruptions can be found on the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health website here.
