Two councillors with Prince Edward County have resigned from the Board of Health in response to the ongoing strikes from the Ontario Nurses’ Association Local 31 and CUPE Local 3341.
Kate McNaughton and John Hirsch stated their intentions to resign from the Board of Health at a meeting of Prince Edward County council on Tuesday.
Hirsch said he can no longer sit on the board and support the approach the board has taken in negotiations with the public health nurses and CUPE employees.
“A new and more transparent approach needs to be taken in order to quickly resolve the labour disputes and get the employees back to work, the very people we rely on to safeguard our public health,” Hirsch told council.
“I’m not a quitter, but filing my resignation is the only way I can raise attention to the issues in our Board of Health. I urge the board to return to real bargaining as soon as possible.”
McNaughton joined Hirsch in announcing her resignation from the Board of Health.
“I was thinking to stay on to advocate for good, transparent, fair-minded practice but I don’t see any benefit that can be derived by my presence at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health so with regret I also announce that I intend to resign,” McNaughton said.
The Ontario Nurses’ Association Local 31 has been on strike since August while CUPE Local 3341 went on strike last Friday.
“Mr. Hirsch’s and Ms. McNaughton’s resignations bring light to the fact that the Board of Health management is not being transparent,” said ONA Bargaining Unit President Joshua Davidson Marcon in a release.
“These resignations must move the Board forward to revise its negotiations mandate and offer fair wages to our members.”
