Members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association Local 31 appeared at the September 20 meeting of Quinte West City Council on Wednesday.
The public health nurses are currently on strike after they and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health failed to reach an agreement.
The main sticking point remains wages.
Quinte West Mayor Jim Harrison addressed the nurses before the start of delegations.
He says council appreciated the work of the nurses but can’t get involved in contract negotiations.
“As far as the bargaining process that you’re involved in, that’s a process that we cannot touch, we cannot become a part of that process,” Harrison told the nurses.
“We have members who are there and that’s their responsibility and we pass that on as a council to them and other councils do the same. That’s about all I can tell you.”
The public health nurses have gone to different public buildings to protest including outside Belleville City Hall as well as the Hastings Prince Edward Public Health buildings in Belleville and Trenton.
There is some progress towards a return to the bargaining table.
Speaking to Quinte News on Tuesday, ONA Local 31 president Joshua Davidson Marcon said there was a conversation with HPEPH about possibly returning to the bargaining table either later this week or early next week.
That news comes as a September 22 strike date for CUPE members with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health looms.
