Front Lines February 2010

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.”

Preserve and Create “Good Jobs,” Campaign Urges

SpEcIAl INSERT: Navigating the New ONA Website

65690-1 frontlines feb2010 v9_opt.indd 1 2/23/10 1:09 PM

FEBRUARY 20102


President, VM #2254Communications & Public Relations

Vicki McKenna, RN

First VP, VM #2314Political Action & Professional Issues

Diane Parker, RN

VP Region 1, VM #7710Occupational Health & Safety

Anne Clark, RN

VP Region 2, VM #7758Labour Relations

Andy Summers, RN

VP Region 3, VM #7754Human Rights & Equity

Dianne Leclair, RN

VP Region 4, VM #7752Finance

Karen Bertrand, RN

VP Region 5, VM #7702Education


Chief Executive Officer,VM #2255

How to contact your 2010 ONA Board of Directors

Call ONA toll-free at 1-800-387-5580 (press 0)

or (416) 964-1979 in Toronto and follow the

operator’s prompts to access board members’

voice-mail. Voice-mail numbers (VM) for Board

members in the Toronto office are listed below.

Tel: (416) 964-8833

Toll free: 1-800-387-5580

ONA Provincial Office

85 Grenville St., Ste. 400

Toronto ON M5S 3A2

ONA is the union representing 55,000 registered nurses and allied

health professionals and more than 12,000 nursing student affiliates

providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the

community, clinics and industry.

Fax: (416) 964-8864

E-mail: [email protected]

www.ona.org

Design: Artifact graphic design

Printed by union labour: Thistle Printing Limited

Copyright © 2010 Ontario Nurses’ Association

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced

or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic,

mechanical, photocopy, recording, or by any information storage or

retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

ISSN: 0834-9088

Editor: Ruth Featherstone

Features Editor: Melanie Levenson

Send submissions to:

Communications and Government Relations Intake at [email protected].

Contributors: Brooke Burns, Colin Johnson, Nancy Johnson, Ken Marciniec,

Lawrence Walter.

EHamilton2 King St., W., 2nd Floor RearDundas, ON L9H 6Z1Tel: (905) 628-0850Fax: (905) 628-2557

EKingston4 Cataraqui St., Ste. 306Kingston ON K7K 1Z7Tel: (613) 545-1110Fax: (613) 531-9043

ELondon750 Baseline Rd. E. Ste. 204London ON N6C 2R5Tel: (519) 438-2153Fax: (519) 433-2050

EOrillia210 Memorial Ave., Unit 126AOrillia ON L3V 7V1Tel: (705) 327-0404Fax: (705) 327-0511

EOttawa1400 Clyde Ave., Ste. 211Nepean ON K2G 3J2Tel: (613) 226-3733Fax: (613) 723-0947

ESudbury764 Notre Dame Ave., Unit 3Sudbury ON P3A 2T4Tel: (705) 560-2610Fax: (705) 560-1411

EThunder Bay#300, Woodgate Centre, 1139 Alloy Dr. Thunder Bay ON P7B 6M8Tel: (807) 344-9115Fax: (807) 344-8850

ETimminsCanadian Mental Health Association Building330 Second Ave, Ste. 203Timmins ON P4N 8A4Tel: (705) 264-2294Fax: (705) 268-4355

EWindsor3155 Howard Ave., Ste. 220Windsor ON N8X 3Y9 Tel: (519) 966-6350 Fax: (519) 972-0814

ONA Regional Offices

ONA Members Across Ontario


FEBRUARY 2010Vol. 10 • No. 1

Up Front


FEBRUARY 2010 3

Fax: (416) 964-8864

E-mail: [email protected]

continues from cover

Create “Good Jobs,” Campaign Urges


“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.

continues from cover

Up Front


FEBRUARY 20104

From ONA President

Présidente, AIIO


What about the Other 95 Per Cent of Nurses?

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.


FEBRUARY 2010 5

From ONA Chief Executive Officer

Directrice générale, AIIO


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.


FEBRUARY 20106

OH&S Win Means Safer Workplaces

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.



FEBRUARY 2010 7

Protect Your Rights; Side Deals Not Allowed! No matter what sector you work in, it is important to uphold your

collective agreement.

The collective agreement between an employer and the union

is a legal document that reflects agreed to terms and conditions

and working conditions of ONA members, and employer obliga-

tions within a Bargaining Unit. If you see the employer and ONA

members violating the collective agreement – and this could in-

clude you – you need to identify it and advise your Bargaining Unit

leadership.

In some cases, members are making what we call “side deals” or

“backroom deals” with the employer around issues that violate col-

lective agreements, including working overtime without the over-

time premium, and working shifts where a premium would apply,

but agreeing to work at straight time.

If members and management are allowed to violate the col-

lective agreement, you and your fellow employees may lose these

rights. It doesn’t take long for management’s incorrect interpreta-

tion to gain acceptance. If employees are unwilling to take a stand

and grieve, the employer has, more or less, a free hand.

The collective agreement is only a piece of paper, which must be

carefully and intelligently enforced if it is to mean anything. With

the support of your ONA representative, you need to uphold your

hard-fought rights!

Nurse PractitioNers

ONA Nurse Practitioner HonouredWhile a Local 51 ONA member is thrilled to

win a prestigious award from the Nurse Prac-

titioners Association of Ontario (NPAO), she

says the real reward is in the work she does

on a daily basis.

Late last year, Michelle Acorn was pre-

sented with the fifth annual Jerry Gerow

Nurse Practitioner Award (Nurse Practitioner

of the Year) from the NPAO for her significant

contributions to the role of nurse practitioner

and the association, and her commitment to

the health of seniors at Lakeridge Health’s

Specialized Assessment of the Frail Elder

(SAFE) clinic.

“Being acknowledged by your peers is a

great honour and privilege,” said Acorn, who

is also president-elect of the NPAO and has ac-

quired numerous degrees and certifications.

“I love the work I do, sharing my knowledge

of nursing with others and helping patients

with their families regain their strength, in-

dependence and health. Nothing is more sat-

isfying than seeing a patient who has fallen

due to a combination of factors come back

into the SAFE clinic, walking stronger and

looking great, and saying ‘you’ve changed my

life.’ That’s the biggest thank you anyone can get.”

Congratulations, Michelle, on this well-deserved honour!

Being acknowledged by your peers is a greathonourandprivilege.

Michelle Acorn - Local 51 Nurse Practitioner



FEBRUARY 20108

Front Lines “Excellent,” Survey Respondents Say

Your QuestioNs aNswered

24/7 RN Coverage in ltC and the Right to Refuse overtimeThe current RN staffing requirement under long-term care legislation

(Regulation 832) is the provision of mandatory 24-hour, seven days

per week (24/7) RN coverage. Where homes are not staffing to this

minimum requirement, grievances are to be filed.

It is ONA’s position that non-Bargaining Unit registered nurses,

such as managers, are not included in the 24/7 RN coverage.

In nursing homes, coverage by a director of care (DOC) is required

under regulation. Nursing homes with fewer than 60 beds are required

to have DOC coverage for a minimum of 20 hours per week, and for

nursing homes with more than 60 beds, it is 37 hours per week. The

hours in which the DOC works in that capacity are not considered to

be hours that a registered nurse is on duty and present in the home

for purposes of the 24/7 regulation.

In addition, Professional Responsibility Complaints should be filed

for every shift the employer has not provided appropriate RN cov-

erage, and RNs should notify the Ministry of Health and Long-Term

Care (MOHLTC) that the long-term care facility is not meeting the 24/7

regulation. The MOHLTC advises that there are no exceptions to the

staffing regulation.

It is acceptable for nurses to work overtime when they feel compe-

tent to provide safe, effective and ethical care. If a nurse is too fatigued

to do so, it is ONA’s position that she/he has the right to refuse over-

time. ONA’s collective agreements provide language on when and

how overtime can be worked and paid. You can also find an example

in the College of Nurses’ Practice Guideline, Refusing Assignments and

Discontinuing Nursing Services at www.cno.org/docs/prac/41070_refus-

ing.pdf.

If you need assistance calling a compliance officer, of if you have

questions or concerns about these issues, contact your Bargaining

Unit President, who will consult with your Labour Relations Officer.

The MeM

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E continues on page 3


ONA Irate at Competitive Bidding Reversal

AFeaTures

Front Lines Survey ResultsFront Lines Survey ResultsFront Lines

Focus on Lisa Stainton, NP

When the College Comes Knocking

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Member News

ONA News .............................................

Queen’s Park Update

CFNU News............................................

LEAP .......................................................

Human Rights and Equity

Awards and Decisions

Education...............................................

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............................................

.......................................................

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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


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

has taken our new Cutting Nurses, Cutting CareCutting Nurses, Cutting CareCutting Nurses, Cutting C campaign up a notch by are campaign up a notch by areing television, bus shelter and billboard ads, and staging a very successful rally at billboard ads, and staging a very successful rally at billboard ads, and stagingQueen’s Park in Toronto.

The campaign, aimed at lobbying the government and employers and educating the publicon the serious impact of registered nurse layoffs and/or reductions in nursing posihours will have on patient care, has garnered extensive media and public attention silaunch on February 9, 2009. Scarcely a day goes by that ONA’s campaign is not mentionedthe media, and our dedicated campaign website had already received more than at press time, thousands of whom left messages for that press time, thousands of whom left messages for that press time, thousands of eir MPPs demanding the cuts beThe second phase of the campaign – a television commercial and billboard/bus shelwas unveiled on February 26, 2009.

But the highlight of our campaign so far is our successful rally at

balance health care faciliThe survey, conducted b

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E16

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JuNe 2009Vol. 9 • No. 3



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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.



niagara public health nurses avert strike

A FeaturesBecoming Influential............................... 7Focus on…Industry nurses ...................... 9June PCM Photospread......................... 10

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

MOre

north bay rns choose ona

special pull-ouT FeaTure: influenza preparedness

E continues on page


Public Opposes Nursing Cuts: ONA PollPublic Opposes Nursing Cuts: ONA Poll

campaign up a notch by a very successful rally at

ployers and educating the public/or reductions in nursing posi

media and public attention siA’s campaign is not mentioned

ad already received more than 10,000 visitors eir MPPs demanding the cuts be

ercial and billboard/bus shel

balance health care facility budgets.The survey, conducted by Vector Polling

this past January, reveals that 83 per cent of Ontarians polled oppose reducing registered

AFeaTures.............

............... 6

members in the nursing hom

reached between our Nursing

group, which will see wage and premium increases, and gains in

and safety issues.

“ONA is very pleased that we’ve been able to reach this agreement

to the province’s most vulnerablonasettlement Ratified

been able to reach this agreement

to the province’s most vulnerabl


nniagara iagara

June PCM Photospread......................... 10

A INDEX.......................................... 6

.............................................. 11.............................15

...............................................15.....................16

.......................................................17............................................18

...........................19...............................................20

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

The MeMbers’

publicaTion oF The

onTario nurses’

associaTion

A in This issue…

E4

From ONA President


E5

From ONA CEO


E14

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


ONA Appeals SARS Ruling

A FEATURES

Kudos to the LEAP Team ........................ 7

Nurses Choose ONA ................................ 8

Port Perry Picket...................................... 9

CAMH’s Guilty Plea............................... 10

A INDEX

Member News.......................................... 6

ONA News.............................................. 10

Queen’s Park Update .............................15

OHC News..............................................15

CFNU News ............................................16

Human Rights and Equity.....................17

Awards and Decisions ...........................18

Education...............................................20

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

insiDe: information on the

acclaimed candidates


iagara iagara

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

re

rnona


In This Issue . . .E4From ONA President


E5From ONA CEO



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-

lent publication” the most common.

Thank you for responding to our Front Lines sur-

vey. Your comments are very important to us and

will help shape future issues.



FEBRUARY 2010 9

Member Pens Book on DyingAn ONA member and pastoral care worker

has turned her thesis on the delicate sub-

ject of dying into a successful book that she

hopes will inspire and assist others.

Michelle O’Rourke (pictured), an emer-

gency room nurse at the Chatham-Kent

Health Alliance, Local 35, wrote Befriending

Death: Henri Nouwen and a Spirituality of Dy-

ing to alleviate people’s fears about the end

stage of life. The book combines the writings

of Nouwen, a Dutch-born priest, teacher and

spiritual writer, and quotes from medical pal-

liative experts with her own experiences.

“After taking Palliative Care Level 1, I

worked with our local palliative pain and

symptom management coordinator to bring

the program into our parish and train volun-

teers to journey with our parishioners facing

life-threatening illness,” said O’Rourke, who is

also a lay ecclesial ministry specialist for the

Diocese of London, overseeing lay pastoral ministers, coordinators of

youth ministry and parish nurses. “When it came time to decide on a

topic for my Master’s thesis, I knew I wanted it to have something to

do with spirituality and palliative care – this was the most natural way

to combine my nursing background with my pastoral ministry. The

irony is I didn’t set out to write a book!”

While Befriending Death, which is sold internationally and was sent

back for a second printing just one month after its release, is more an

inspirational book, it also contains practical information.

“The practical piece has more to do with the need for us as health

care providers to do our own inner work about what we believe

about living and dying, so that we can help our patients and clients

feel comfortable talking about it and making good health care de-

cisions,” said O’Rourke, who has been holding book signing events

(where a portion of the proceeds go to a local hospital or palliative

care initiative), speaking engagements and workshops, and is a con-

tributor on the Good Morning America website’s spirituality page.

“We live in an anti-aging, death denying culture and people are just

afraid to talk about it. But if we can befriend our dying, it changes

the way we live.”

Befriending Death: Henri Nouwen and a Spirituality of Dying is avail-

able at Chapters bookstores, Amazon.ca or by contacting O’Rourke

through her website at www.selahresources.ca.

Time to Get Ready for Nursing Week!Nursing Week 2010 is just a few weeks away and we urge you to

start planning activities to acknowledge and celebrate your im-

portant profession.

This year, Nursing Week will be held from May 10-16 under the

theme, Celebrate Our Nurses: The Heart of Heath Care. As usual, we

will be offering Nursing Week posters, small tokens of our appre-

ciation for your dedication all year round and other special sur-

prises. Check the ONA website at www.ona.org for updates in the

coming weeks.

All members of the Board of Directors will also be making site

visits across the province to celebrate with members firsthand and

discuss your current realities.

And don’t forget that when the week is over to please send

Front Lines your stories and photos for a Nursing Week spread in an

upcoming issue. Submissions can be e-mailed to Communications

and Government Relations Intake at cgrintake@org.

Allied HeAltH ProfessionAls

Happy Social Work Week!ONA extends a very happy Social Work

(SW) Week to our social worker members

throughout Ontario.

Much like Nursing Week, SW Week,

held this year from March 1-7, 2010, is set

aside to laud the role and contributions of

these highly skilled professionals, who enhance health care by help-

ing people of all ages, backgrounds and income levels participate

more fully in relationships, work, home and community life. They also

address complex social problems, such as the multiple impact of pov-

erty, the lack of adequate housing and barriers imposed by discrimi-

nation.

The theme for this year’s SW Week is Poverty: There are Solutions –

Social Workers Making a Difference. Social workers are being urged to

assist with campaigns and organizations that are pushing for solu-

tions to be adopted on this growing problem.

ONA is proud of our SW members, who work in many sectors and

are a component of our allied health group. We encourage you to ac-

knowledge and celebrate this caring profession during SW Week.

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FEBRUARY 201010

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.

The following anonymous story from one of our

members in Region 4 describes a typical shift in

the emergency room.

I was assigned as charge nurse one night

shift and when I came in, I was greeted by

eight ambulances outside the emergency

door. When I got into the department, hardly

putting my purse down and coat away, I was

told that two patients needed to be trans-

ferred.

The unit was short-staffed…again. But I

was told that scheduling attempted to get a

nurse to come in, one who could read cardiac

monitors, for at least a four-hour time period.

There was no one available. So, I was the only

senior nurse in the emergency department,

save for another senior nurse who was as-

signed to the cardiac trauma room to cover.

For the next one-and-one-half hours, I

was the charge nurse, cardiac trauma back-

up, and, of course, triage to the never-ending

lineup at the front window. Of course, once

the ambulances unloaded and were back

on the street, it wasn’t long before the EMS

phone at triage starting ringing with news of

more injured patients on their way in.

Meanwhile, the buzzer for the “locked

door” rang repeatedly as patients and family

members wandered in and out for coffee and

smoke breaks while waiting to be seen.

Due to the acuity of the patients in the de-

partment, the day charge nurse was late get-

ting home herself and felt guilty for leaving.

Just a shift in the life of an ER nurse.



FEBRUARY 2010 11

ONA 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.

Member Runs for Canada

Local 96 member Karen Michelson has definitely been carrying a torch, but in this case, it’s a

good thing!

Michelson, who works at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, had the honour of carrying the

Vancouver 2010 Olympic torch in Cobourg, home to members from Local 105, on December

15, 2009, day 47 of the torch relay. Despite the frigid temperatures, members from both Locals

came out in full force to cheer her on, waving ONA flags and banners.

“It was quite a spectacle to see and hear,” said Local 105 Coordinator Karen Bruton. “I was

greatly moved at seeing a nursing colleague run with the Olympic torch. As Karen was waiting

for the torch, we were all so excited for her and Canada. The experience was so short, but will

last a lifetime in all our memories.”

This is only the latest in a string of athletic accomplishments for Michelson, who is a long-

time active member, serving as an ONA representative and Local executive member. She is the

first Canadian woman to complete a mara-

thon on every continent, the only woman to

finish the North Pole bike race and the first

woman to win the Queen Rapa Nui award on

Easter Island with the best overall score for

the bike race, triathlon and marathon.

Congratulations, Karen!

Bargaining Unit SUcceSS Story

Local 51 Leaders Help Prevent CutsThanks to the determination and actions of Lakeridge Health Bar-

gaining Unit Presidents Lynda Rath (nurses) and Suzanne McVety

(allied), working in tandem with the ONA Board and staff, the fa-

cility has rescinded its voluntary integration plans (VIPS), which

would have seen the closure of its respiratory therapy clinic, the

merging of the outpatient adult day hospital and possible job

losses.

Late last year, both ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud and

the Local 51 Bargaining Unit Presidents wrote letters to the Central

East Local Health Integration Network (CE LHIN) expressing con-

cern about Lakeridge’s plan to deal with its deficit. We stated that

no information on the planned VIPs was presented to the hospi-

tal’s Fiscal Advisory Committee, as mandated by the Public Hospi-

tals Act, no engagement with employees had taken place, and the

integration proposals did not contain a community engagement/

consultation report, as required by the CE LHIN.

As a result of our lobbying, a letter dated January 19, 2010

from Lakeridge Health CEO Kevin Empey stated that the CE LHIN

has committed to providing $4.1-million in additional base fund-

ing to the hospital – enough for it to rescind its VIPS.

“Local 51 leaders kept the message that these cuts are unac-

ceptable out there to the LHIN, employer and the community,”

said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud. “As a result, our mem-

bers at Lakeridge Health and their patients will benefit.”


FEBRUARY 201012

February is Black History Month

and ONA members can play a

part by continuing in efforts and

offering ideas on how to bring

about awareness and acknow-

ledgement of the contributions

of Black people to society as a

whole and the world at large, one

ONA founding member says.

Sadie Harrison, who turns 81

this year, said that because Black

History Month allows for the

celebration of accomplishments

and honours the perseverance of

many, including nurses, people need to be af-

firmed.

“If the history of nursing is traced, it will be

seen, for example, that the 1940s was a decade

of great change for Black nurses,” she said. “We

need to canvass members for ideas on how to

bring about awareness and an acknowledge-

ment of the accomplishments of nurses.”

Harrison’s own accomplishments are

very impressive. After securing acceptance

to the Sefton General Hospital in Liverpool,

England in 1956, she left Jamaica to pursue

nursing, graduating with a diploma as a state

registered nurse in 1960. She received a cer-

tificate as a midwife, obtained a post-gradu-

ate certificate in tropical diseases and worked

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.



FEBRUARY 2010 13

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.

Overcoming Challenges in Communicating with Members: One Local’s Story

The following article was submitted by Local 11

Vice-Coordinator Sue Sommerdyk (pictured).

As union leaders we are bombarded daily

with information we need to communicate

to our members.

Windsor Regional Hospital (WRH) is part

of Local 11 with three campuses, approxi-

mately 900 nurses and several off-campus

clinics. One of the biggest challenges faced

by the Bargaining Unit leadership is how to

effectively communicate to our members.

Changes in technology have improved our

ability to distribute information to our mem-

bers in a timely manner.

The Challenges

The common methods used to communicate

with members continue to have drawbacks.

Monthly meetings remain poorly attended.

Members complain about the timing and

location of the meetings. There is a general

apathy that we have been unable to over-

come. Faxing information to nursing units

poses another set of problems. Not all de-

partments have faxes, numbers get changed,

faxes fail and faxes with contentious issues

seem to disappear. Posting notices on ONA

boards is time-consuming, not up to date

and hard to maintain with working sched-

ules. Newsletters and memos are costly to

produce and hard to ensure delivery to all

members in a timely manner. Unit binders

were extremely hard to maintain and update.

The Solutions

So how does one communicate effectively

with so many members over three campus-

es? At WRH we have an excellent working re-

lationship with the senior management. This

relationship has allowed ONA to be provided

with web pages on the hospital intranet and

permission to use the hospital e-mail system

to communicate with members. The intranet

is only accessible at the hospital or through

a remote gateway. It is not accessible to the

public.

E-mails

Local 11 has its own distribution list that

is maintained by our secretary. With a few

key strokes, it is possible to send an e-mail

to every ONA members at WRH. This has

eliminated the need to fax memos to units.

Members in all areas now receive timely in-

formation. This has reduced the cost of print-

ing, and members can keep a copy for future

reference.

Web Pages

Local 11 has web pages with full administra-

tive control, designed to suit the needs of the

members. With the development of these

pages, we were able to remove unit binders,

minimize the amount of information posted

on the unit boards and ensure members

had access to needed information. Our web

pages include a front page with links to:

• Upcoming meetings.

• Seniority lists.

• Collective agreements.

• Membership: a link to the secretary to

inform her of address changes or to ver-

ify bona fide status.

• Learning opportunities: a link to a cal-

endar of conferences and workshops of

interest to the members (maintained by

the Bargaining Unit ONA Professional

Development Committee) and informa-

tion on funding.

• Ask ONA: nurses submit a question to

the secretary who will seek out the ap-

propriate leader to respond.

• FAQ: under development.

• Important notices: under development

Additional links are provided for:

• Who We Are.

• Contact Us: members can view contact

information for Bargaining Unit leader-

ship and send e-mails directly from this

page.

• The ONA website (www.ona.org).

• Committees.

• Professional Responsibility Complaints.

• Return to work/modified work.

• Grievances.

• WSIB/LTD claims.

• Education calendar.

• Presentations.

• Elections.

Our web pages are a work in progress and we

are always asking members to send in sug-

gestions on additions and improvements.

Due to the cooperation of the manage-

ment at WRH, the leadership has been able

to improve our communication with mem-

bers of this Bargaining Unit. We continue to

explore the use of information technology to

expand this communication to all members

of Local 11 at all Bargaining Units.


FEBRUARY 201014

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


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.


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

Similar to hospitals, long-term care

homes are now required to prepare

and submit a planning document to

their Local Health Integration Network

(LHIN).

This document, called a Long-Term

Care Accountability Planning Submis-

sion (LAPS), supports the negotiation

of a Long-Term Care Home Service Ac-

countability Agreement (L-SAA). Both

the LAPS and L-SAA will cover a three-

year period, and LHINs must enter into

L-SAAs with the homes by March 31,

2010. LAPS were due to the LHINs by

November 20, 2009.

The central themes of the LAPS in-

clude: service planning; measurement

and evaluation of health services; and

organizational performance.

Nursing students from Lakehead Univer-

sity in Thunder Bay (left to right) Court-

ney Gibson, Devon D’Aleo and Daenis

Camire, members of the Canadian Nurs-

ing Students’ Association (CNSA), prac-

tice their skills on a simulation patient

during their lab on January 19, 2009.

ONA leaders voted on a student affiliate

membership classification for Ontario

members of the CNSA at the November

2008 Biennial Convention.

Practice Makes Perfect!Student Affiliate Member


LTC Homes Required to be Accountable

ONA News


FEBRUARY 201016

Positive Changes have Come from Dupont TragedyAs the family of murdered Local 8 member

Lori Dupont (pictured) settles its lawsuit

against Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital in Wind-

sor, ONA is hopeful they will find some

comfort in the fact that her death has re-

sulted in positive changes throughout the

province.

The Dupont’s civil lawsuit, filed in

March 2006, claimed Lori’s employer knew

for months about threats and harassment

directed at her by a doctor, who murdered

Lori while she was working at the hospital

on November 12, 2005, but “failed to re-

spond with sufficient urgency or concern

to the danger posed.” A settlement was

reached in January, but details will not be

released.

“The murder of Lori by a colleague

in her workplace will forever haunt her

fellow nurses and nurses across the prov-

ince who face violence on a daily basis,”

ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud

wrote in a letter to the editor, published

in the Windsor Star on January 12, 2010.

“The thoughtful and insightful rec-

ommendations of the coroner’s jury that

heard Lori’s story have resulted in new

policies and practices not just in Wind-

sor, but across the province to keep

nurses safe. Legislative changes have also

strengthened workplace safety laws. The

introduction of the Safe Workplace Advo-

cate at Hotel-Dieu has been another posi-

tive change for nurses at the hospital.”

ONA also commends the Dupont family

for showing extraordinary grace and cour-

age during this very protracted ordeal.

Helping HaitiHelping Haiti

Joseph Brant Fined for OHSA ViolationsJoseph Brant Memorial Hospital Corporation in Burlington has been fined $10,000 for a

violation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) after workers became ill.

On April 30, 2008, the hospital was informed that a patient was in contact with sca-

bies and the next day, the hospital’s infection control manager implemented a scabies

surveillance protocol. Hospital workers reported skin rashes from late May to late July

of that year and two were diagnosed with scabies. On July 22, 2008, the Ministry of

Labour (MOL) learned about the outbreak from local media and investigated.

Joseph Brant pleaded guilty under the OHSA of failing as an employer to notify the

MOL within four days of being advised by, or on behalf of, an employee that the worker

had an occupational illness. Joseph Brant is part of Local 71.

ONA expresses our deepest sympathies to

the family of a nurse who was killed in the

devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan-

uary 12, 2010.

Yvonne Martin from Elmira had arrived in

Haiti only 90 minutes before the earthquake

struck. She was part of a contingent of six

nurses and one doctor from the Kitchener-

based Evangelical Missionary, who were visit-

ing Haiti to provide care in remote areas.

On behalf of our members, ONA and the

other provincial nursing union affiliates of the

Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions have

donated $65,000 towards the relief efforts in

Haiti. We advise members that the best way to

help the people affected is also by donating

funds for medical care, food, water, clothing

and shelter. For information on how to do so,

log onto our website at www.ona.org

“While it is a testimony to your dedica-

tion and commitment as health profession-

als that your first thought is to rush to aid the

people of Haiti, those who provide relief help

in disaster areas must be carefully vetted and

trained and it requires a controlled and orga-

nized effort to appropriately place and utilize

them,” stated ONA President Linda Haslam-

Stroud in a letter to all members available on

our website.

ONA News


FEBRUARY 2010 17

Positive Changes have Come from Dupont tragedyAs the family of murdered Local 8 mem-

ber Lori Dupont (pictured) settles its law-

suit against Hotel-Dieu Hospital, ONA is

hopeful they will find some comfort in the

fact that her death has resulted in positive

changes throughout the province.

The Dupont’s civil lawsuit, filed in

March 2006, claimed Lori’s employer knew

for months about threats and harassment

directed at the nurse by a doctor, who

murdered Lori while she was working at

the hospital on November 12, 2005, but

“failed to respond with sufficient urgency

or concern to the danger posed.” A settle-

ment was reached in January, but details

will not be released.

“The murder of Lori by a colleague

in her workplace will forever haunt her

fellow nurses and nurses across the prov-

ince who face violence on a daily basis,”

ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud

wrote in a letter to the editor, published

in the Windsor Star on January 12, 2010.

“The thoughtful and insightful rec-

ommendations of the coroner’s jury that

heard Lori’s story have resulted in new

policies and practices not just in Wind-

sor, but across the province to keep

nurses safe. Legislative changes have also

strengthened workplace safety laws. The

introduction of the Safe Workplace Advo-

cate at Hotel-Dieu has been another posi-

tive change for nurses at the hospital.”

ONA also commends the Dupont family

for showing extraordinary grace and cour-

age during this very protracted ordeal.

News in BriefE A $150-million mini-hospital, the first of its kind in Ontario, is set

to open in the Ottawa area in 2013. The Orleans Family Health Hub

will shift high-cost diagnostic tests and treatment, including day

surgery, dialysis and cancer detection and treatment, out of hospi-

tals and into a community facility at almost one-third the cost of

urgent care hospitals. Services at the centre,

which some are calling the future for primary

health care in Ontario, will be performed by

doctors, nurses and other allied health pro-

fessionals. ONA will be determining if this

has Public Sector Labour Relations Transition

Act implications for our members.

E Beginning December 31, 2010, foreign-trained professionals, in-

cluding registered nurses, will be told within one year if their cre-

dentials will allow them to work in their profession in Canada, un-

der a new framework announced by the federal government. The

framework also pledges that federal, provincial and territorial gov-

ernments will strive to create better services for immigrants be-

fore they arrive in Canada and once they’re in the workforce.

E The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has launched a web-

site allowing users, through an easy step-by-step process, to send

a customized e-mail letter to their MPP protesting the potential

zero increase in funding to hospitals in 2010, despite increased

costs related to H1N1, aging and wait times. The website can be

accessed at www.avoidingzero.ca. Premier Dalton McGuinty has

since announced that funding will not be frozen this year.

CounterpartsE New Brunswick is spending $800,000 on a new incentive program

designed to fill hard-to-recruit nursing positions in the province,

which was agreed to during negotiations for the current nurses’

contract. Health Minister Mary Schryer announced that 40 gradu-

ate nurses will be offered $10,000 forgivable loans this year and

another 40 next year, providing they agree to remain on the job in

the province for a minimum of two years. New Brunswick Nurses

Union President Marilyn Quinn said the program will go a long

way towards addressing the province’s nursing shortage, espe-

cially in rural areas.

E The Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN)

has launched its “Patients and Families

First Initiative,” aimed at supporting regis-

tered nurses and their efforts to improve

patient outcomes and monitor patient safety, by issuing a chal-

lenge. SUN will offer two $10,000 awards to the patient/patient

groups and SUN nursing group that develop the most promising

innovation to develop and test sustainable methods to provide

patient-centred care, which may include chronic disease manage-

ment, health promotion, accident or illness prevention and pa-

tient safety.

E UNISON, England’s largest public sector health union, is concerned

that country’s move to a four-year degree for nurses by 2013 will

exclude willing recruits at a time when the National Health Service

needs them the most. The current

entry requirement – a three-year di-

ploma – will be elevated to four

years of courses that meets stan-

dards to be set by the Nursing and

Midwifery Council, the current professional regulator, for nurses

over the next two years. But UNISON President Gail Adams said the

diploma system had enabled students from varied backgrounds

and mature workers, who have the experience but not necessarily

the academic qualifications to go for a degree, to become nurses.

“The emphasis should be on the competence of the nurses, not on

unfounded notions about academic ability,” she stated.

Recent StudiesE A single-day snapshot of more than

14,000 patients in hospital intensive care

units suggests more than half had infec-

tions, making them more common than

thought, a study published in the Jour-

nal of the American Medical Association

reveals. The researchers found that in-

fections and related sepsis was the

leading cause of death in non-cardiac

intensive care units, and patients in ICU who developed

infections were twice as likely to die. Dr. John Marshall from the

University of Toronto said the results show that providing ade-

quate numbers of nurses and properly designed ICU wards can

lower the risk of infection and save lives.

A single-day snapshot of more than in hospital intensive care

units suggests more than half had infec-

tions, making them more common than

intensive care units, and patients in ICU who developed


FEBRUARY 201018

JI_ONA_Apr09_FINAL.eps 1 21/04/09 3:52 PM


E Early results from Ontario’s foray into

family health teams are promising and

show the team practices are more effi-

cient, provide more preventive services

and better care management for chroni-

cally ill patients, the New England Journal

of Medicine says. The article, which pro-

vides a glowing review of Ontario’s move

to create multidisciplinary teams of

health professionals, also states the

model represents the type of practice

primary care physicians in the United

States always hoped to have. ONA repre-

sents members in family health teams in

Kingston.

E Sharing a hospital room increases a pa-

tient’s chance of picking up dangerous

infections, a new study published in the

American Journal of Infection Control

finds. The research shows that each

roommate a patient is exposed to hikes

her or his risks of infection by 10 per cent,

likely because they share a washroom.

E A record number of Ontarians are being

sent to the U.S. for routine health care

that should be available at home, a Met-

roland Special Report says. The report

shows that there has been a 450 per cent

increase in OHIP approvals for out-of-

country care since 2000; patient demand

has created “health system navigators” or

medical brokers, who find American op-

tions for Ontario patients opting to pay

for services south of the border; and OHIP

payments will balloon to $164.5-million

in 2010 from $56.3-million in 2005. Long

waits, unavailable procedures and poor

physician access are among the reasons

for the increase, the report concludes.

ONA News


FEBRUARY 2010 19



E Seven additional nurse practitioner-led clinics, which offer a

team-based approach to front-line health care, will open in

Belleville, Essex, French River, Glengarry South, Oro Station,

Oshawa and Thunder Bay. These clinics are in addition to the

four already announced for Barrie, Belle River, Sault Ste. Marie

and Thunder Bay. In total, 25 nurse practitioner-led clinics will

operate across the province by 2011/12.

E The Ontario government has also announced it is creating 19

new family health teams across the province to provide better

access to family health care. The new teams will set up in areas

of the province with high numbers of patients without family

doctors. Family health teams include physicians, nurse practi-

tioners, registered nurses, social workers and dieticians. The 19

new family health teams are expected to be up and running by

2011/12. Ontario has 150 teams.

E Health care and information technology executive Raymond

Hession has been appointed Chair of eHealth Ontario’s Board

of Directors for a three-year term. As chair, Hession sets policy

and direction for the government agency responsible for all

aspects of eHealth in the province, including creating an elec-

tronic health record for all Ontarians by 2015. Hession served

as Chair of the Board of Directors at Ontario Health Quality

Council and Chair of the Board of Governors of the Ottawa

Hospital. Ontario is also appointing Michael Fenn as the new

interim President and Chief Executive Officer of eHealth On-

tario, taking over for Rob Devitt.

Queen’s Park update education

How to Be an ONA Leader!With the nursing shortage growing, the

average age of nurses continuing to in-

crease and more and more facing burn-

out, succession planning has never

been so important to our Locals.

Succession planning is a process for identifying and develop-

ing internal personnel with the potential to fill key or critical or-

ganizational positions. It ensures the availability of experienced

and capable employees who are prepared to assume these roles

as they become available.

To facilitate the process, ONA offers a one-day succession plan-

ning program, which may very well be the catalyst to get you and

your Local executive team moving on the development of a suc-

cession plan, including mentoring members, grooming them for

success and building their confidence as leaders. One-hundred

per cent of participants who have taken this workshop gave it a

90 to 100 per cent satisfaction rating. For more information on this

program, log onto our website at www.ona.org

And don’t forget that ONA is also offering a Leadership Confer-

ence this June to 25 participants (new Bargaining Unit Presidents,

ONA representatives and potential new ONA leaders/representa-

tives). Application is through Expression of Interest. Speak to your

Bargaining Unit President or Local Coordinator to learn more.

Learning by the Books!Local 43 Treasurer Su Lin Lee, Local 42 Treasurer

Christine Lafrance and Local 99 Treasurer Jinetta

Oakes (left to right) join other ONA Local Treasur-

ers to discuss financial issues, receive training on

applicable accounting software and network at

the annual Treasurers Workshop on January 26-27,

2010 in downtown Toronto. Along with your Local

Executive, the Local Treasurers’ accountabilities

are of the utmost importance in overseeing our

Local dues.

With the nursing shortage growing, the

average age of nurses continuing to in-

crease and more and more facing burn-

out, succession planning has never


FEBRUARY 201020

OFl News

E THE ONTARIO FEDERATION OF LABOUR (OFL) has released

its action plan, endorsed by voting delegates, including those

from ONA, at its Biennial Convention in November 2009. The

actions are sectioned into three categories: the fight for sus-

tainable jobs; jobs, public services and the social safety net;

and campaigning for action. In terms of health care, the plan

calls for several actions, including: stopping the competitive

bidding process in home care and ensuring successor rights

for workers; ensuring fair treatment for all health care workers;

stopping the privatization of the health care system; appropri-

ately funding public health nursing; establishing 3.5 hours of

RN care per day for long-term care residents; and halting fur-

ther divestment and bed closures in mental health.

E THE RECENT REPORT FROM THE AUDITOR GENERAL of

Ontario makes clear the cause of the Workplace Safety and In-

surance Board’s (WSIB) underfunded liability and it isn’t overly

generous benefits for injured workers, newly-elected OFL Pres-

ident Sid Ryan says. In his annual probe of government spend-

ing, Auditor General Jim McCarter stated that “clearly the very

existence of the unfunded liability demonstrates that, over the

years, the province’s employers have not fully funded the costs

of injuries and occupational diseases, so these liabilities will

need to be funded by future employers.” “This report is a tre-

mendous vindication for the labour movement and especially

for injured workers because it essentially echoes what we’ve

been saying for more than a decade,” said Ryan. “To make WSIB

fulfill its mandate and keep injured workers out of poverty, we

need to make sure premium revenues are adequate.”

E THE OFL HAS OFFICIALLY RELEASED its 20-minute video,

Climb the Hill: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace, which calls

for an end to one of the most challenging problems our mem-

bers face. The video – jointly produced by a number of unions,

including ONA – features interviews with women, such as Lo-

cal 8 member Barbara Porter and ONA President Linda Haslam-

Stroud’s daughter Adele Stroud, who detail their experiences

with workplace sexual

harassment and offer

advice (see Front Lines,

Vol. 9, October 2009, pg.

6). For more informa-

tion, log onto the OFL’s

website at www.ofl.ca.

OHc NewsE THE ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION (OHC) has written to

the chief coroner asking for an inquest after 18-year-old Reilly

Anzovino died from injuries sustained in a car accident while

in an ambulance on route to Welland. Her closest emergency

department in Fort Erie, part of the Niagara Health System, was

recently closed due to budget cuts. “This raises the issue of the

human costs of hospital budget cuts across Ontario,” said OHC

Director Natalie Mehra. “Hospital officials, consultants and the

government have consistently downplayed the risks associat-

ed with closing small communities’ emergency departments.

They have even tried to sell the cuts as ‘improvements’ and

‘quality care.’ But longer travel times and ambulance backlogs

mean that the ‘golden hour’ – the time in which medical inter-

vention can save a person’s life or improve their health out-

comes – is compromised.” The Ontario Federation of Labour

has also joined the OHC in calling for an inquest.

cFNU News

E THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF NURSES UNIONS is broad-

ening its efforts to protect Canada’s blood supply in light of the

February 2009 decision of Canadian Blood Services (CBS) to elimi-

nate nurses from initial donor screening and replace them with

“multi-skilled workers.” And we need your help! Click on Safeblood.

ca and send your message through the easy to use online “take

action” tool and ask your family and friends to do the same. More

information is available on the ONA website at www.ona.org.

T h i s n u r s e i s n ’ t j u s t c h e c k i n g o f f b o x e s . S h e ’ s u s i n g a l l o f h e r e d u c a t i o n

a n d c l i n i c a l e x p e r i e n c e t o e n s u r e i t ’ s s a f e f o r t h i s p e r s o n t o d o n a t e b l o o d .

Canadian Blood Services wants to eliminate nurses from the initial screening of blood donors.

The Krever Inquiry into Canada’s tainted blood scandal stated: “careful screening is essential to maintain a safe blood supply and it must continue.”

Nurses have the professional training and skills needed to screen and assess donors to identify safety risks.

We urge Minister Aglukkaq to reject the Canadian Blood Services proposal.

Think like a nurse, put safety first.

A message to Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq

www.SafeBlood.caCanadian Federation of Nurses Unions

RHONDA ROFFEY: WOMEN’S HABITAT Every day across Canada, in

every public and private sector

workplace, women are building this country’s economy. For

both men and women, the demands of work are often difficult and

stressful. But when women go to

work, we face additional pres-sures because we are women.

The Canadian Human Rights Act

and the Canada Labour Code,

both of which cover federal employees, as well as the

Ontario Human Rights Code all contain prohibitions against sexual harassment.


FEBRUARY 2010 21

LEAP

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

ONA2a_Apr09, 2.625x10.25_CMYK:Layout 1 4/21/

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


FEBRUARY 201022

Human RigHts and Equity

“Best Session I Have Ever Attended!”Caucus Highlights ONA’s Commitment to Equity

ONA recognizes and values the diversity of our

membership and works hard to promote equity

in the workplace and our union.

Part of this unwavering commitment is our

annual Human Rights and Equity Caucus, most

recently held on November 10, 2009 at the Royal

York Hotel in Toronto. This year, the caucus was

a little different, as Human Rights and Equity

Team members were given “ownership” of the

day by serving as lead facilitators in their desig-

nated group’s breakout session, a role generally

performed by a member of staff. The goal was to

empower them to be leaders within their equity

group and, more importantly, as Human Rights

and Equity Representatives within their Bargain-

ing Units. Each member successfully rose to the

challenge.

Questions discussed at each breakout session

were aimed at engaging the breakout groups to

share concerns or issues they are currently facing

in the workplace. Common themes were cap-

tured and shared with the entire plenary.

Also new this year to the Friends and Allies

group was the creation of a World Café, an innov-

ative yet simple way to host conversations. These

conversations link and build on each other, as

people move between groups, share ideas, and

discover new insights into the questions or issues

that are most important in their life, work, or

community. Another first was the direct involve-

ment of Board members, each of whom hosted a

table conversation at the World Café.

Survey results of the Caucus were very posi-

tive, with most participants indicating they were

“very satisfied” with the day. One stated that “this

has been the best Human Rights and Equity ses-

sion I have ever attended – and I have attended

them all!”

ONA’s Human Rights and Equity Caucus is just

another way ONA is achieving our commitment

to diversity and equity issues.

Human Rights and Equity Team representatives (Usha Aurora is missing).

Aboriginal Caucus group members.


FEBRUARY 2010 23

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

communicating with WSIB for her.

This appeal covered approximately 32 months

of LOE, at a value of around $132,000, plus ap-

proximately $17,000 for her NEL award.

Importance to ONA: This case under-

scores the serious violence hazards fac-

ing our nurses, and the need for strong

union representation to protect our in-

jured workers from further damage at the

workplace and by the WSIB system.

of LOE, at a value of around $132,000, plus ap-

jured workers from further damage at the


OntariO nurses’ assOciatiOn

85 Grenville St., Ste. 400

Toronto ON M5S 3A2

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.

The lasT Word


Front Lines February 2010

Documents

Transcript of Front Lines February 2010