Well over 100 union members from various unions rallied outside Hastings Prince Edward Public Health offices Wednesday in support of striking public health nurses.
The nurses are in their third week of a strike, angry that health unit management has refused to negotiate what they call a “fair contract.”
The nurses could soon be joined on picket lines by over 60 members of CUPE also working for the health unit. CUPE members, who include, program assistants, public health inspectors, dental assistants, health promoters and dieticians can legally strike September 22.
The Ontario president of CUPE, Fred Hahn, said he is proud of the nurses and support for them is growing, adding a 2% wage increase offer was just a joke. “The only thing 2% is good for these days is milk.”
“You can’t bully us. You can’t intimidate us. We are valuable and we will fight for our worth!”
Fred Hahn speaks to union rally outside HPE Public Health offices in Belleville August 6/23. (Photo: Quinte News)
The former mayor of Belleville and a local business owner is supporting striking nurses working for Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.
Mitch Panciuk told the rally that public health workers were also employees of the city, of Hastings County, of Quinte Conservation.
Panciuk said the health unit management’s refusal to negotiate is wrong, pointing out how crucial the nurses are to community safety.
“When COVID came to our community and we had to set up an assessment centre for testing, public health nurses were there … they were the first ones putting themselves at risk and they supported us.”
Panciuk said it wasn’t enough for the health unit’s management to sit back and say they didn’t ask for enough money from Belleville, Prince Edward County, Quinte West, and the province at budget time.
“They were able to find money for the health unit administrators, they were able to find money for Hastings County employees, they were able to find money for municipal employees and now they say they don’t have enough money for public health nurses. It’s shameful.”
Panciuk said health unit management should immediately meet with the local mayors and get back to negotiating a fair contract.
Mitch Panciuk. (Photo: Quinte News)
Ontario Nurses Association President Erin Ariss drew loud support at the rally yelling into a bullhorn, “We are highly educated professionals, we are dedicated, we care deeply about our patients, but WE ARE NOT martyrs.”
