Sudbury & District Public Health Unit nurses reach tentative settlement with employer

Following a long and difficult negotiations process, public health nurses with the Sudbury & District Public Health Unit have reached a tentative settlement with their employer.

The nurses - members of the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) - have been working with an expired contract since April 1, 2009.

"I'm happy to report that the registered nurses and nurse practitioners with Sudbury & District Public Health Unit reached a tentative settlement earlier today," says ONA 1st Vice-President Vicki McKenna, RN. "This has been a long and difficult process during a pivotal moment for communities and for our nurses as they've worked to protect their community during the flu pandemic. ONA is very happy to recommend ratification of the tentative settlement."0

Sudbury & District Public Health nurses provide such services as outbreak protection (monitoring outbreaks), flu and hepatitis vaccine clinics, health education and promotion for families with new babies, as well as sexual health clinics and education for the municipality's residents.

The 118 ONA members and the employer will each hold ratification meetings on the tentative settlement. Details of the tentative settlement cannot be released at this time.