The Members’ Publication of the Ontario Nurses’ Association In This Issue . . . E4 From ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN E5 From ONA CEO Lesley Bell, RN, MBA E6 From ONA First Vice-President Vicki McKenna, RN FEBRUARY 2010 Vol. 10 • No. 1 continues on page 3 continues on page 3 ONA Supports Student Nurses FEATURES Upholding the Collective Agreement. 7 Front Lines survey results ......................... 8 Focus on Sadie Harrison ........................ 12 International Year of the Nurse............ 24 INDEX Member News ............................................. 7 ONA News ................................................... 14 Queen’s Park Update ............................... 19 Education .................................................... 19 OFL News..................................................... 20 CFNU News ................................................. 20 OHC News ................................................... 20 LEAP .............................................................. 21 Human Rights and Equity ..................... 22 Awards and Decisions............................. 23 has joined our allies in the provincial labour movement in an ad campaign to push for a “good jobs” budget from the Ontario government. e aim of the Communities that Work campaign, launched on February 1, 2010 by the On- tario Federation of Labour (OFL), of which we are a member, is to lobby the government to re- tain and create good jobs, which will help pay down the $24.7-billion deficit, speed up and con- solidate the economic recovery, and is the only sustainable way to really help the bottom line. e Ontario budget is expected to come down some time in March. ONA e ONA Board of Directors has shown our union’s commitment to future nurses by supporting and attending the National Con- ference of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA), held in Quebec City from January 26-30, 2010. Under the theme, “Moving Forward, Change is Here,” the CNSA conference, at- tended by almost 600 students from across the country, featured several guests speak- ers, including Canadian Federation of Nurs- es Unions President Linda SiIas, presenta- tions, and workshops on hot topics, such as ethical dilemmas ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, middle, joins leaders of Ontario’s 15 largest private and public sector unions on January 21, 2010 to deliver a clear and unified message to Finance Minister Dwight Duncan (right, speaking): Ontario needs a “jobs budget.” Preserve and Create “Good Jobs,” Campaign Urges SPECIAL INSERT: Navigating the New ONA Website
The members’ publication of the Ontario Nurses’ Association. Vol. 10, No. 1 - Preserve and create “good jobs,” campaign Urges; ONA supports student nurses; International Year of the Nurse.
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The Members’ Publication of the Ontario Nurses’ Association
In This Issue . . .E4From ONA President
Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN
E5From ONA CEO
Lesley Bell, RN, MBA
E6From ONA First Vice-President
Vicki McKenna, RN
FEBRUARY 2010Vol. 10 • No. 1
continues on page 3
continues on page 3
ONA Supports Student Nurses
FEATURESUpholding the Collective Agreement. 7Front Lines survey results ......................... 8Focus on Sadie Harrison ........................12International Year of the Nurse............24
INDEXMember News ............................................. 7ONA News...................................................14Queen’s Park Update...............................19Education ....................................................19OFL News.....................................................20CFNU News.................................................20OHC News ...................................................20LEAP ..............................................................21Human Rights and Equity .....................22Awards and Decisions.............................23
has joined our allies in the provincial labour movement in an ad campaign to push for a “good jobs” budget from the Ontario government.
The aim of the Communities that Work campaign, launched on February 1, 2010 by the On-tario Federation of Labour (OFL), of which we are a member, is to lobby the government to re-tain and create good jobs, which will help pay down the $24.7-billion deficit, speed up and con-solidate the economic recovery, and is the only sustainable way to really help the bottom line. The Ontario budget is expected to come down some time in March.
ONA
The ONA Board of Directors has shown our union’s commitment to future nurses by supporting and attending the National Con-ference of the Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA), held in Quebec City from January 26-30, 2010.
Under the theme, “Moving Forward,
Change is Here,” the CNSA conference, at-tended by almost 600 students from across the country, featured several guests speak-ers, including Canadian Federation of Nurs-es Unions President Linda SiIas, presenta-tions, and workshops on hot topics, such as ethical dilemmas
ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, middle, joins leaders of Ontario’s 15 largest private and
public sector unions on January 21, 2010 to deliver a clear and unified message to Finance
Minister Dwight Duncan (right, speaking): Ontario needs a “jobs budget.”
“Paying down the deficit won’t create good jobs, but creating good jobs will pay down the deficit,” said OFL President Sid Ryan, adding that Ontario has lost about 200,000 jobs since the recession started and many of the jobs we do have are part-time.
The campaign began with a province-wide blitz of radio ads en-couraging all Ontarians to get involved in the conversation about the next budget by talking to their friends, family members, neigh-bours and MPPs about the importance of good jobs.
“Certainly in our sector we have seen nurses lose their jobs as em-ployers attempt to balance their budgets,” said ONA President Lin-da Haslam-Stroud. “In fact, more than 3.2-million hours of nursing
DECEMBER BoaRD HiGHliGHts
The following are key highlights from
the Board of Directors meeting held
December 9-10, 2009 at the ONA
provincial office.
A ONA will provide sponsorship fees of
$9,000 to the Ontario Health Coalition,
a campaign donation of $15,000, and
$10,000 for the hospital cuts campaign,
for a total of $34,000 for 2010.
A The Board approved a donation of
$5,000 to help the Ontario Federation
of Labour’s support of striking workers.
A The Board approved quarterly
professional practice teleconnects.
A Bargaining Unit Presidents from all 32
public health units have been invited
to be part of the next two teleconnects
for ONA’s provincial Public Health
Network.
Complete highlights of the Board of Direc-
tors meeting are available on the ONA web-
site at www.ona.org. The following Board
meeting was held at the provincial office on
February 10-11, 2010 and highlights will
appear in the next issue of Front Lines.
care have been cut from Ontario hospitals alone. We join with our allies in letting the government know that short-sighted decisions to cut public services, such as eliminating nurses, in the upcoming budget could threaten our fragile economy – and the health of our communities – even further.”
We encourage you to log onto the campaign’s dedicated website – communitiesthatwork.ca – (or click on the link on ONA’s website at www.ona.org) to send an e-mail to Premier Dalton McGuinty that we need a good jobs budget and leave a message about the health care challenges your community is facing. In keeping with the times, you can also follow the campaign on the social networking website Twitter at twitter.com/communitieswork.
ONA Supports Student Nurses
Bonjour! ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, First Vice-President Vicki McKenna,
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions President Linda Silas, Saskatchewan Union of
Nurses President Rosalee Longmore, Fédération Interprofessionelle de la Santé du Québec
President Régine Laurent and ONA CEO Lesley Bell are dwarfed by Le Bonhomme, the
mascot of the Quebec Winter Carnival, as they attend the recent Canadian Nursing
Students’ Association conference.
Student Affiliate Member
Ontario Nurses’ Association
in nursing practice and Canadian health care policy. For the first time, Nursing the Future held a workshop to assist CNSA members with the transition from student to new nursing graduate, which was very well received. Both a career fair and exhibit were also held at the conference.
Ontario Regional Director Branden Shepitka, a third-year Laurentian nursing stu-dent, was named president-elect, taking over from Tyler Kuhk on April 1, 2010. Jamie Kyriacou, a second-year Laurentian nursing student, was elected Ontario Regional Di-rector, assuming that role from Shepitka.
ONA leaders voted on a student affiliation membership classification for Ontario members of the CNSA at the November 2008 Biennial Convention.
As nurses in all sectors throughout the province face the elimi-nation of our positions and layoffs, the government has the opportunity in its upcoming budget to take meaningful steps
to finally address this serious situation once and for all.Unfortunately, government initiatives continue to focus on sup-
porting just 5 per cent of our nursing workforce. We need action to respond to the other 95 per cent, who are being negatively affected by current government policies related to balanced budgets in the hospital sector in particular, and funding crunches for other health sectors.
We know – and research backs us up – the economic value of registered nurses to the health care system and our clinical value on ensuring positive outcomes for patients. If this government is ever going to guarantee the delivery of quality care in Ontario communi-ties, nursing jobs must be preserved – and they must be preserved now!
Our solutions, which ONA provided to a pre-budget government standing committee in early February (see page 14), involve poli-cies to support the other 95 per cent of the nursing workforce the government is overlooking. This includes placing a moratorium on the erosion of nursing positions by directing health care agencies to maintain the number of full-time equivalent nursing positions em-ployed at each facility with no RN positions eliminated or replaced with less qualified providers.
If implemented, our proposals would have an enormously posi-tive impact, not just on nurses in all sectors, but on those to whom we so diligently care.
Et les 95 % restants?
Alors que les infirmières, dans tous les secteurs, partout dans la province, sont aux prises avec la suppression de postes et les mises à pied, le gouvernement a la possibilité dans son pro-
chain budget de prendre des mesures importantes pour enfin résou-dre une fois pour toutes cette situation difficile.
Malheureusement, les initiatives gouvernementales restent concentrées sur 5 % seulement du personnel infirmier. Nous avons besoin que des mesures soient prises pour répondre aux 95 % res-tants qui subissent les conséquences néfastes des politiques gou-vernementales actuelles sur l’équilibre des budgets dans le secteur hospitalier en particulier et d’autres secteurs des soins de santé font face à des compressions de financement.
Nous savons – et des études nous le confirment – ce que repré-sente la valeur économique des infirmières autorisées pour le systè-me des soins de santé ainsi que notre valeur clinique dans la presta-tion de soins efficaces aux patients. Si ce gouvernement a vraiment l’intention de garantir la prestation de soins de qualité à la popula-tion ontarienne, les emplois d’infirmières doivent être protégés et ils doivent l’être maintenant.
Nos solutions, que l’AIIO a présentées devant un comité perma-nent dans le cadre de la préparation du budget du gouvernement en février (voir page14), comprennent des politiques de soutien aux 95 % d’infirmières que le gouvernement néglige. Elles comprennent l’instauration d’un moratoire sur la réduction des postes d’infirmiè-res demandant aux organismes de soins de santé de conserver le nombre de postes infirmiers équivalent temps plein dans chaque établissement et qu’aucun poste d’I.A. ne soit supprimé ou remplacé par des prestataires de soins moins qualifiés.
Si elles étaient appliquées, nos propositions auraient une in-cidence extrêmement positive, non seulement sur les infirmières dans tous les secteurs, mais aussi sur les personnes dont nous pre-nons soin avec tant de diligence.
While the complexity and intensity of nursing continues to increase, nurses themselves are being cut by employers to balance budgets, leading to fewer RNs for the same number of patients.
We know – and research backs us up – the economic value of registered nurses to the health care system and our clinical value on ensuring positive outcomes for patients.
L’étude sur la surcharge de travail n’apprend rien de nouveau aux membres de l’AIIO
Une étude récente indique que près de trois travailleurs de la santé sur cinq de quatre hôpitaux d’Ottawa souffrent d’une surcharge de travail qui est néfaste pour leur santé mentale
et physique et qui risque d’entraîner rapidement un épuisement professionnel chez nombre d’entre eux. Voilà qui n’est pas nouveau pour nos membres. C’est ce que vous vivez au quotidien dans tous les secteurs.
Même si les hôpitaux d’Ottawa disent qu’ils ont pris des mesu-res pour améliorer leur culture de travail en mettant davantage l’ac-cent sur les récompenses et la reconnaissance des employés, toute démarche qui ne s’accompagne pas d’une réduction de la charge de travail est vaine. Pendant que les infirmières doivent s’acquitter de tâches de plus en plus complexes et lourdes, les employeurs conti-nuent de supprimer des postes pour équilibrer leur budget, ce qui se traduit par un nombre réduit d’infirmières autorisées pour le même nombre de patients. Malheureusement, cette situation ne fera que s’aggraver au cours de la prochaine année puisque les hôpitaux s’at-tendent à des compressions ou des gels budgétaires, à des fermetu-res de lits et à d’autres mises à pied. Nous avons besoin de solutions avant d’en arriver là.
Il appartient aux employeurs de s’assurer qu’ils ont suffisam-ment de personnel – et, comme solution possible, d’engager leurs infirmières – et au gouvernement de fournir le financement néces-saire. Les membres de l’AIIO doivent aussi continuer de remplir des formulaires de plainte sur la surcharge de travail afin que nous soyons pleinement informés de ce que vous vivez en première ligne.
Donc, si cette étude ne nous apprend rien de nouveau, il est important que nos employeurs, le gouvernement et le public conti-nuent d’entendre parler de nos difficultés. Alors seulement pour-rons-nous espérer voir s’améliorer nos conditions de travail de même que les soins à nos patients/clients/pensionnaires, et aussi notre propre santé.
Study on Overload is Nothing New to ONA Members
A recent study showing that almost three in five health care workers at four Ottawa hospitals are suffering from role over-load that is damaging their physical and mental health and
putting many on the fast track for burnout is hardly news for our members. You live it every day in every sector.
While the Ottawa hospitals say they have taken steps to improve their work culture by putting a greater emphasis on rewarding and recognizing employees, any gestures not accompanied by reduced workload are meaningless. While the complexity and intensity of nursing continues to increase, nurses themselves are being cut by employers to balance budgets, leading to fewer RNs for the same number of patients. Unfortunately, this will only intensify over the next year as hospitals, for one, brace for funding cutbacks or freezes, bed closures and further layoffs. We need solutions before we get to that point.
It is incumbent upon employers to ensure they have appropriate staffing levels – and engage their nurses for possible solutions – and the government to provide the necessary funding. ONA members must also continue to fill out workload complaint forms so we have a full grasp of your experiences on the front lines.
So, while the study is nothing new to us, it’s important for our employers, the government and the public to keep hearing about our realities. Only then can we hope to improve our working condi-tions, care for our patients/clients/residents – and, in turn, our own health.
While the complexity and intensity of nursing continues to increase, nurses themselves are being cut by employers to balance budgets, leading to fewer RNs for the same number of patients.
In a clear-cut example of what can be accomplished when ONA members, together with our allies, work towards a common goal, the government has once again amended the Needle Safety
Regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act to make it apply to additional health care workplaces.
The regulation – the third and final phase – mandates the use of safety-engineered needles to eliminate or minimize the risk of nee-dle punctures to health care workers. As of July 1, 2010, the regula-tion, which currently pertains to hospitals, long-term care homes, laboratories, specimen collection centres and psychiatric facilities, will also apply to public health units, doctors’ and dentists’ offic-es, community heath centres, independent health facilities, family health teams and home care services.
This is the culmination of an exhaustive campaign with our union allies that began in November 2005 and in which we dem-onstrated the effectiveness of and need for our members to have access to safety-engineered devices. Now, with this latest announce-ment, all ONA members can feel confident that our workplaces are a little bit safer for our patients/clients/residents, our families and ourselves. It’s clear that when it comes to occupational health and safety, your union is having an impact and making a difference! We are a true leader in this important field.
Un gain en matière de santé et sécurité au travail pour des milieux de travail plus sécuritaires
Voici un exemple manifeste de ce qui peut être accompli lors-que des membres de l’AIIO et nos alliés travaillent ensemble pour un même objectif : le gouvernement a une nouvelle fois
modifié le Règlement sur la sécurité des aiguilles dans le cadre de la Loi sur la santé et la sécurité au travail afin qu’il s’applique à d’autres milieux de travail en santé.
Le règlement – troisième et dernière phase – rend obligatoire l’utilisation d’aiguilles de sécurité pour supprimer ou minimiser le risque de piqures pour les travailleurs de la santé. À partir du 1er juillet 2010, le règlement qui s’applique actuellement aux hôpitaux, aux foyers de soins de longue durée, aux laboratoires, aux centres de prélèvement et aux institutions psychiatriques, s’appliquera en outre aux bureaux de santé publique, aux cabinets dentaires et mé-dicaux, aux centres de santé communautaire, aux établissements de santé autonomes, aux équipes de santé familiale et aux services de soins à domicile.
C’est l’aboutissement d’une vaste campagne menée en collabora-tion avec nos alliés depuis novembre 2005 et dans le cadre de laquel-le nous avons démontré l’efficacité des instruments sécuritaires et la nécessité pour nos membres d’y avoir accès. Maintenant, à la suite de cette dernière annonce, tous les membres de l’AIIO peuvent être sûrs que nos milieux de travail sont un peu plus sécuritaires pour nos patients, nos familles et nous-mêmes. Il est clair que lorsqu’il s’agit de santé et de sécurité au travail, notre syndicat a de l’influen-ce et peut faire bouger les choses! Nous sommes sans conteste un chef de file dans ce domaine important.
From First Vice-President
Première vice-présidente, AIIO
Vicki McKenna, RN
Now, with this latest announcement, all ONA members can feel confident that our workplaces are a little bit safer for our patients/clients/residents, our families and ourselves.
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SaySay QuestionnaireQuestionnaire
AIN thIs Issue…E4From ONA PresidentLinda Haslam-Stroud, RN
E5From ONA CEOLesley Bell, RN, MBA
E16From ONA First Vice-PresidentVicki McKenna, RN
APRIL 2009 Vol. 9 • No. 2
Proving our Cutting Nurses, Cutting Care campaign is hitting the mark, ONA has re-cently released statistics showing that the public overwhelmingly disagrees with cutting registered nursing jobs and nursing hours to E continues on page 3
E continues on page 3
Public Opposes Nursing Cuts: ONA Poll
AFeaTuresMarch PCM Highlights ........................... 9History of Nursing Homes Bargaining.. 10
ADeparTMenTsMember News.......................................... 6ONA News .............................................12Queen’s Park Update.............................17Human Rights and Equity ....................18Education...............................................19CFNU News............................................19Awards and Decisions...........................20
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JuNe 2009Vol. 9 • No. 3
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SARS Lawsuit Dismissed as H1N1 Hits
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E14From ONA First Vice-PresidentVicki McKenna, RN
AUGUST 2009 Vol. 9 • No. 4
Public health nurses with the Regional Municipality of Niagara Public Health Unit, Local 9, have reached a settlement with the employer just days before they were set to hit the picket lines.
A The Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act following the amalgamation of North Bay General Hospital, where the RNs were represented by ONA, and NEMHC, where the RNs were represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. The nurses were given the option of choosing either union – and virtually all chose ONA.
In the weeks leading up to the vote, ONA campaigned heavily to retain our members and recruit the NEMHC nurses, setting up information booths within the hospital, handing out literature and answering questions about what exceptional services ONA provides.“ONA prides itself on being the leading voice of and advocate for
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Public health nurses with the Regional Municipality of Niagara Public Health Unit, Local 9, have reached a settlement with the employer just days before they were set to hit the picket lines.
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June PCM Photospread......................... 10
A INDEX.......................................... 6
The Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act following the amalgamation of North Bay General Hospital, where the RNs were represented by ONA, and NEMHC, where the RNs were represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. The nurses were given the option of choosing either union – and virtually all chose ONA.
In the weeks leading up to the vote, ONA campaigned heavily to retain our members and recruit the NEMHC nurses, setting up information booths within the hospital, handing out literature and answering questions about what exceptional services ONA provides.“ONA prides itself on being the leading voice of and advocate for
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From ONA President
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From ONA CEO
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From ONA First Vice-President
Vicki McKenna, RN
OC TOBER 2009 Vol. 9 • No. 5
ONA has applied to the Supreme Court of
Canada for leave to appeal the decision of the
Ontario Court of Appeal, which dismissed an
action on behalf of 53 nurses who contracted
SARS while caring for patients in 2003.
On May 7, 2009, just a few weeks after E continues on page 3
E continues on page 3
ONA Appeals SARS Ruling
A FEATURES
Kudos to the LEAP Team ........................ 7
Nurses Choose ONA ................................ 8
Port Perry Picket...................................... 9
President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN, and First Vice-President Vicki McKenna, RN,
have been acclaimed to their positions for another two-year term, until 2011.
As a result, elections for these positions will not be necessary this fall. As the five Vice-Pres-
idents on the ONA Board of Directors were elected to two-year terms last year, their positions
will extend until 2010.
Haslam-Stroud, a long-time political activist, nursing advocate and St. Joseph’s Healthcare
(Hamilton) renal transplant nurse, will serve a fourth two-year term as ONA President. She
has been an active member in our union since 1980, serving as Local 75 Bargaining Unit Presi-
dent and Local Coordinator, leading central hospital bargaining, and sitting on a wide array of
internal and eternal committees.
the H1N1 virus hit our province, the On-
tario Court of Appeal ruled that the provin-
cial government does not owe a “private law
duty of care” to front-line registered nurses
and that the “interest of nurses cannot be pri-
oritized over the gen-
oNA
ona president, First Vp acclaimed
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acclaimed candidates
Public health nurses with the Regional Municipality of Niagara Public Health Unit, Local 9, have reached a settlement with the employer just days before they were set to hit the picket lines.
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than 300 registered nurses at North Bay General Hospital, Local 20, and North Eastern Mental Health Centre (NEMHC) have overwhelmingly chosen ONA as their union.Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act
following the amalgamation of North Bay General Hospital, where the RNs were represented by ONA, and NEMHC, where the RNs were represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. The nurses were given the option of choosing either union – and virtually all chose ONA.In the weeks leading up to the vote, ONA campaigned heavily to retain our members and recruit the NEMHC nurses, setting up information booths within the hospital, handing out literature and answering questions about what exceptional services ONA provides.“ONA prides itself on being the leading voice of and advocate for
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The Members’ Publication of the Ontario Nurses’ Association
In This Issue . . .E4From ONA President
Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN
E5From ONA CEO
Lesley Bell, RN, MBA
E18From ONA First Vice-President
Vicki McKenna, RN
DECEMBER 2009Vol. 9 • No. 6
Significant improvements have been made to virtually all ONA services over the past six years, our recent membership survey shows.
Through a series of questionnaires, focus groups and interviews, ONA members were asked earlier this year to rate 19 different ONA services, including retention, retire- continues on page 3
continues on page 3
Members Highly Rate ONA Services
FeaturesFocus on Northern NP ............................11New ONA Website ....................................13How to Follow a Ministry Order ..........24
IndexMember News ............................................. 6ONA News ...................................................12OHC News ...................................................17Queen’s Park Update ...............................19CFNU News .................................................19Human Rights and Equity .....................20OFL News.....................................................22Awards and Decisions.............................23
t the request of registered nurses from Local 70, the ONA Board of Directors has agreed to censure Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation (HHSC) over ongoing labour relations concerns and repeated violations of the collective agreement.
The censure, a rare but serious step that is taken when ONA and its members believe there is no other option to send the message that poor practices are having a negative impact on staff and patient care, was officially announced at a media conference out-side of the hospital on November 17, 2009. The event was attended by ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud and other members of the ONA Board of Directors, members of Local 70, and nearby St. Joseph’s Hospital, all of whom handed
ment intentions, scope of practice, work-load, workplace violence, health care reform, and union operations.
“Members have been rating ONA’s perfor-mance on 18 of these services since the 1999 research project, and eight of them since the first project in 1995,”
A
ONA Censures Hamilton Health Sciences
INSIDE:Student Affiliation Pull-out Insert
An overwhelming 97 per cent of respondents to our annual Front
Lines survey rank the content of the publication as right on track.
Approximately 79 per cent rated the content of Front Lines as
“good,” and a further 18 per cent said it is “fair,” while 97 per cent
were pleased with the magazine’s stylish design. As
well, 89 per cent felt the pull-out features, included
three times per year, were either “very useful” or
“somewhat useful.”
General comments about Front Lines were very
positive with “keep up the good work!” and “excel-
Engaging Members at the Local LevelFor one Local leader, the key to member
involvement begins with getting them
engaged in Local and provincial meetings.
“We invite one of ONA’s Vice-Pres-
idents to every September Local execu-
tive meeting and have a short education
session at that meeting,” said Local 8 Co-
ordinator Barb Deter, adding that this past
fall, the Local welcomed Region 2 Vice-
President Anne Clark and ONA Labour
Relations Officer Michelle Brousseau, who
gave a brief presentation on Professional
Responsibility (PR) Workload forms. Each
Bargaining Unit President invited her/his
PR representatives to attend.
“There was a lot of interest in this
meeting and we had great attendance,”
she said. “That creates a lot of enthusiasm
for the union at the Local level.”
To spark interest for the union at the
provincial level, the Local asks Bargaining
Unit Presidents which grassroots mem-
bers are interested in attending ONA’s
Biennial Convention, held in Toronto in
November, and draws one name from
that list for an all-expenses paid trip.
Hospitals
Member Details a Shift in the Life of an ER Nurse
Sharing our Members’ ExperiencesONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud (right photo, far right), First Vice-President Vicki McKenna (in black vest) and Region 1 Vice-President
Diane Parker (beside Haslam-Stroud) discuss key ONA initiatives with Local leaders from Region 1 at their Area Coordinators Conference (ACC)
in Toronto on January 26, 2010. One week later on February 2-3, Local leaders from Region 3 also gathered at ONA’s provincial office for their
ACC (left photo). ACCs are held in each Region and provide ONA leaders and members with an opportunity to discuss the business of their
Local, their experiences and challenges, current trends and upcoming events, and receive education on relevant topics.
ONA founding member Sadie Harrison, then (1984) and now
(August 2009).
Black History MontH
Focus on… Sadie Harrison, Founding Member
for five years in obstetrical nursing before im-
migrating to Canada in 1966 to work as a staff
nurse at the Queensway General Hospital in
Toronto.
“I remember accompanying the then
President of the Queensway on a regular
ONA Welcomes New MembersONA has held three recent successful certification votes:
• Queens Garden Long-Term Care Residence in Hamilton: 12 registered nurses.• Cedarvale Lodge in Keswick: 11 registered nurses.• Meadowpark Nursing Home in London: 18 registered nurses.
We warmly welcome these new members to our union.
basis to meetings attended
by nurses from different satel-
lites,” said Harrison, who retired
in 1994. “There was work to be
done and being present, I be-
came involved with other col-
leagues and we brought about
the formation of ONA.”
Throughout her time as an
ONA member, Harrison occu-
pied various roles at both the
Local and provincial levels, in-
cluding secretary and president,
and sat on many teams, such as
Negotiation and Grievances, Joint Sector, and
Constitution and Resolution.
“ONA was important to me and I hope to
all nurses in that it empowered us to speak
with one voice, whether it was in salary ne-
gotiations, governance or the recognition of
nurses as the professionals we are.”
And Harrison, who said she currently
enjoys the luxury of life’s experiences, her
health (“even if some parts are kept together
by pins and needles”), her family (especially
her three sons and granddaughter) and
friends, has some advice for today’s nurses.
“It is said that knowledge is power, so
nurses should always be upgrading their
knowledge and skills,” she concluded. “That
way they will be better able to care for their
patients, clients and residents.”
Black History Month, celebrated each February in Canada and the United Sates, is an opportunity to share the historical and current contributions of African Canadians and African Americans in areas such as medicine, public service, education, art, culture, economic development, politics and human rights.
Stop Elimination of RN Positions, Pre-budget Submission UrgesThe first priority for nurses is for the government to fund hospitals and other sectors so
they do not balance their budgets by eliminating nursing positions and the hours of pa-
tient care they deliver, ONA has told the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic
Affairs.
In our written submission, given to the committee on February 2, 2009, ONA stated
that such a policy “is unacceptable for a government that says health care is a key priority.”
Specifically, ONA is calling on the government to:
• Implement policies to support 95 per cent of the nursing workforce delivering care
that are being impacted by cuts.
• Take action to ensure hospitals are in compliance with regulations specifying every
hospital is to put in place a Fiscal Advisory Committee.
• Invest in a culture of safety for nurses and allied health workers.
• Regulate and fund a minimum standard in long-term care homes of 3.5 worked hours
of nursing and personal care per resident per day.
• Fully fund mandated health programs and implement accountability measures for
boards of health.
• Implement a policy of wage parity for home care nurses and successor rights for
employees of agencies losing contracts.
• Restore fiscal capacity by postponing corporate tax cuts.
In its submission to the Standing Committee, the Ontario Hospital Association recom-
mended that the provincial budget include a 2 per cent increase in operating funding to
hospitals to avoid further cuts.
To view our full submission, log onto www.ona.org.
ONA Distraught by SARS Appeal DenialONA is devastated that the Supreme Court of
Canada has declined to hear our appeal of an
earlier legal decision regarding responsibil-
ity for keeping nurses safe during the SARS
outbreak.
On December 17, 2009, the Supreme
Court denied the appeal of an earlier deci-
sion of the Ontario Court of Appeal to dismiss
an action filed on behalf of 53 nurses who
contracted SARS while caring for infected
patients in 2003. The Ontario Court had ruled
that the province owed no “private law duty
of care” to registered nurses during SARS,
leaving them without a monetary remedy to
hold governments accountable in court.
ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud said
the loss is another blow to nurses, who con-
tinue to suffer position cuts, heavier work-
loads and other challenges while simply try-
ing to provide quality care to our patients.
“The courts have sent the message to
front-line registered nurses who were infect-
ed with SARS that their health is unimport-
ant,” she said. “The decision means that the
government, which funds health care, hasn’t
been accountable through the courts to en-
sure that RNs had safe working conditions
and safe equipment during SARS. It’s mind-
boggling.”
The Supreme Court of Canada is not re-
quired to provide an explanation for its de-
nial of our appeal.
Student Affiliate Member
Ontario Nurses’ Association
Mentoring our Future Nurses – and Leaders!
Canadian Nursing Students’ Association outgoing President Tyler
Kuhk works from his desk at ONA’s provincial office in Toronto as part
of his clinical placement. Kuhk, who is a fourth-year nursing student
at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, worked with ONA for six weeks
this past January and February under the guidance and mentorship of
ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud.
ONA Members Across Ontario
65690-1 frontlines feb2010 v9_opt.indd 14 2/22/10 10:44 AM
FEBRUARY 2010 15
PuBlic HealtH
President’s Letter to the Editor Published
The following letter to the editor by ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud was published in the Guelph Tribune on January 19, 2010 in response to the news that five nurses are being laid off at the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit.
The story of public health nurses being cut is not a unique one. ONA, representing these nurses, has been sounding alarm bells about the dangers of these public health nursing cuts across the province.
Public health nurses in Ontario provide a range of services for the community, including outbreak protection, flu and hepatitis vaccine clinics, health education and promotion for families with new babies, as well as sexual health clinics and education. In Ontario, public health has been precariously short-staffed for years, and the price to be paid for cutting nursing staff and programs is steep. Have we already forgotten the H1N1 pandemic and the lessons from SARS?
While it’s commendable that Medical Officer of Health Dr. Nicola Mercer is “very sad” to lay off the same public health nurses who showed such dedication to the health of their community during H1N1, I would feel more assured if the public health programs that are such an integral part of the health of our communities were appropriately funded.
It’s unacceptable that health care services, public health programs and, most importantly, public health nursing care are being gutted by budget woes. Where is the common sense in this province when the health and well-being of our communities isn’t worthy of adequate funding?
We all need to call or write our councillors, MPPs, Health Minister Deb Matthews and Premier Dalton McGuinty to ensure they understand that these cuts are not acceptable.
Linda Haslam-Stroud - PresidentOntario Nurses’ Association
Critical Illness Survivor Plan is underwritten by Western Life Assurance Company andadministered by Johnson Inc. MEDOC® is a registered trademark of Johnson Inc.MEDOC® is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada andis administered by Johnson Inc. Johnson Inc. and Royal & SunAlliance InsuranceCompany of Canada share common ownership. All other available benefits are underwritten by Manulife Financial and administered by Johnson Inc. Some conditions may apply. LRP.04.09
Voluntary Benefits
A Benefitfor Everyone,Active or Retired
For more information, contactthe ONA Program Administrator:
Johnson Inc.1595 16th Ave., Suite 700Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3S5(905) 764.4959 (local)1.800.461.4155 (toll-free)
• Long Term Disability• Extended Health Care &
Semi–Private Hospital• Dental Care• Critical Illness• Life Insurance• Accidental Death &
Dismemberment• MEDOC® Travel Insurance
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How to Contact LEAP To contact a member of the LEAP Team, call (416) 964-8833 or toll-free 1-800-387-5580 during regular business hours (press “0” to be connected to the Toronto office if calling toll-free) and ask for “LEAP Intake.” If you do not reach a member of the team, leave a message and your call will be returned within 24 hours.
Survey results don’t get any better than this!
One-hundred per cent of members taking part in the 2009 survey of ONA’s Legal Expense
Assistance Plan (LEAP), which assists members with legal or regulatory body concerns relat-
ing to their work, indicate they are satisfied or very satisfied with the services received. A
further 99 per cent felt it was either easy or very easy to contact LEAP; 100 per cent said they
received a timely or very timely response to their call; and 100 per cent were either satisfied or
very satisfied with the quality of representation provided. The survey was provided to mem-
bers who have used LEAP’s services, and whose files were closed in 2008.
“LEAP is a fantastic service for nurses,” summarized one member, “(with) knowledgeable,
supportive and sensitive staff. Thank you so much!”
ONA LEAP Team advocates handle the majority of College of Nurses of Ontario complaints
and reports in-house, while members needing representation in coroners’ or criminal investi-
gations are referred to outside counsel, who regularly work with the plan. LEAP also provides
representation for members in Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) complaints.
Services covered under LEAP will save you thousands of dollars in legal fees.
To view a copy of the “Gita Proudman Story,” the powerful true story of one member’s experi-
ence with LEAP after she was charged with second degree murder in the death of a newborn, log
onto youtube.ca. For additional information on LEAP, refer to your LEAP Guide, or log onto the
ONA website at www.ona.org.
We are Here for You!Members Express 100 Per Cent Satisfaction with ONA’s LEAP
The following is a sampling of recent key awards and/or decisions in one or more of the following areas: rights arbitration, interest arbitration, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Long-Term Disability (LTD) and Ontario Labour Relations Board. A complete listing of recent awards and decisions can be found on the ONA website at www.ona.org.
Rights“Supervisors” included in ONA Bargaining UnitE Simcoe Muskoka Health Unit
(MacDowell, December 5, 2009)
The health unit introduced a number of new po-
sitions under the title of supervisor.
The role of supervisor varied from program
to program at the unit, but all included mana-
gerial duties, and the employer excluded the
positions from ONA’s Bargaining Unit on that
basis. ONA challenged this exclusion based on
the language of the scope clause in the collec-
tive agreement, which excluded program man-
agers and persons above the rank of program
manager. ONA argued that supervisors were in
the Bargaining Unit because they ranked below
the position of program manager and, in fact,
reported directly to that position.
The Arbitration Board agreed with ONA and
ruled that the collective agreement established
a clear dividing line to determine who was in or
out of the Bargaining Unit based on the position
of program manager. The health unit further
argued that the Arbitration Board should apply
the managerial exclusion found under s. 1(3)(b)
of the Labour Relations Act.
The Arbitration Board rejected this argu-
ment, ruling that this was a determination for
the Ontario Labour Relations Board and not a
Board of Arbitration. The Board went on to state
that even if a s. 1(3)(b) analysis was applied, the
supervisory duties of the position were profes-
sional in nature and not the type of managerial
functions that triggered an exclusion under the
Act.
AwARds And decisions: The work of our Union!
wsiBONA wins appeal, poor return to work plan and WSIB pressure after violent attack leads to further injury E West Hospital
(August 26, 2009)
This nurse worked on a psychiatry ward when she was attacked by a patient who smashed
her head against the wall.
With the assistance of another patient, she broke free, only to be grabbed again by her
hair. The attacker put his arm around her throat and she was sure she was about to be killed.
She sustained numerous soft tissue injuries and developed a secondary illness as a result of
this attack – Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
She attempted a Return to Work (RTW) with accommodations, but the duties and at-
titudes of the employer during this attempted RTW caused an exacerbation of her PTSD so
that she unable to attend work. Her WSIB was re-established.
After additional treatment, WSIB decided she had to return to work, but after numer-
ous stressful, difficult meetings with the employer, was offered work as a “porter.” She had
another exacerbation of her PTSD. Despite abundant medical evidence, the adjudicator dis-
continued her loss of earnings (LOE) benefits, saying the employer had suitable modified
work for her.
All LOE, health care, etc. benefits were re-established and
a 40 per cent Non-economic Loss (NEL) award granted. The
WSIB operations office was to implement the decision, but
poor treatment by WSIB staff necessitated ONA to do all
Happy International Year of the Nurse!2010 marks the International Year of the Nurse (2010IYNurse) and we want you to help acknowl-edge the significant contributions of nurses.
In recognition of the United Nations (UN) Mil-lennium Development Goals – eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality; reduce child mortality; improve material health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other disease; ensure environ-mental sustainability; and develop global part-nerships – 2010IYNurse seeks to recognize the contributions of the world’s nurses and actively involve them in bringing health to their com-munities, both locally and worldwide. It also ac-knowledges the 100th anniversary of the death of Florence Nightingale.
You can get involved by sharing stories and photos of nurses who make a difference through promoting world health (related to the UN goals); posting your 2010IYNurse events on a global calendar; and continuing to work with ONA to bring about increased government and public awareness of health issues. To post your items or for more information, log onto www.2010iynurse.net.