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"I’m so proud to lead a union that takes the lead in tackling the issues that impact Ontario’s health care professionals." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Cobourg (21 July 2017) — All registered nurses and registered practical nurses who work for Saint Elizabeth Health Care in Northumberland County are now members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE), with a vote of 91 per cent in favour.
Saint Elizabeth provides clinical home care services for seniors, adults, and children, ranging from routine care to more complex medical needs. The nurses, who work across Northumberland, Haliburton, and Victoria counties, will now belong to OPSEU’s Community Health Care Professionals Sector.
Nurses want to address working conditions, wages, scheduling
Lucy Morton, OPSEU Chair of the sector, said the Saint Elizabeth nurses were seeking improved working conditions, higher wages, and better scheduling, particularly for full-time and on-call duties.
"Their unanimous conclusion was that OPSEU was the best for community health care nurses,” said Morton. “They appreciated the commitment we’ve demonstrated to community health care.”
New members join nurses from We Care Home Health Services in OPSEU/NUPGE
The Saint Elizabeth nurses join the approximately 50 registered nurses and registered practical nurses with We Care Home Health Services in Peterborough, who voted overwhelmingly to become OPSEU/NUPGE members in June.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas said he was delighted that the union had added to the thousands of community health care professionals OPSEU/NUPGE represented.
“As a registered practical nurse for most of my adult life, I’m particularly cognisant of the needs and challenges that nurses face in carrying out their vitally important role at the heart of our health care system. That’s why I’m so proud to lead a union that takes the lead in tackling the issues that impact Ontario’s health care professionals."
“These nurses have made the right decision in choosing OPSEU/NUPGE, and I warmly welcome them to the union — and a better working future," said Thomas.