Ona Update: Summer 2018

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ONA UPDATE: SUMMER 2018

The following is a summary of ONA’s key activities and successes since the last “The Work of the Union” update in spring 2018. 109045-2(August 3, 2018 / ona_work13:31:46) of the union summer_p02.pdf .1

Bargaining/Labour Relations

LLAfter 10 intense days of negotiations to keep workplaces free from violence, Services in Oakville reached a settlement with the Ontario Hospital Association including domestic violence; and the with their employer during conciliation. (OHA) with little movement, along with requirement for hospitals to provide ONA LLLitigation of the controversial vac- three days of mediation, ONA headed with lists of vacated positions monthly. cinate-or-mask policy introduced to arbitration for a renewed contract for LLTo provide details of the arbitration at many Ontario hospitals is continu- our 61,000 hospital members. award, ONA held a special sector meeting with the Toronto Academic Health LLDuring arbitration, ONA expertly argued ing with hospital leaders so they could Sciences Network group of hospitals, for proper wage increases and norma- take information back to their members. which agreed to another central arbi- tive improvements to benefits and pre- LLONA received a major victory at the tration process and to be bound by the miums, and standardizing the wage grid Ontario Court of Appeal on the issue outcome of a lead case (St. Michael’s for nurse practitioners (NPs). of layoff rights, overturning the judi- Hospital), and we are hopeful for a deci- LLWe also provided additional information cial review of a decision by Arbitrator sion before the 2018 flu season. about hospital funding that came to Felicity Briggs, after a large urban hos- LLAn arbitrator ordered full reinstatement light after the arbitration hearing, which pital closed 11 beds on one of its unit, and compensation for Bargaining Unit we believed needed to be considered. thereby arbitrarily reducing the total President Melissa Wraith following her LLArbitrator William Kaplan issued his hours of work available for regular part- dismissal for trying to obtain informa- award several months later, providing time nurse. tion from her employer about an attack wage increases above what the OHA LLONA continues to watch the changeover on an ONA member at Alexandra and was offering; new coverage for mental of community care access centres to Marine General Hospital. health services by a psychologist, regis- Local Health Integration Networks very LLCanadian Blood Services has been tered psychotherapist or social worker; carefully as we are concerned they have removed from the right-to-strike sec- the requirement for new grads who do failed to truly integrate patient care. tor, meaning bargaining disputes will be not pass the NCLEX to be placed on LLIt came down to the wire, but the five settled at arbitration; ONA is reviewing unpaid leave and not terminated; clari- full-time and two casual RNs at the options for group bargaining with their fication of the obligation of employers Central West Specialized Developmental employers.

Canadian Blood Services Bargaining Unit Presidents with ONA staff

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LLAs one of only 17 parties granted stand- Neutral Comparison System (GNCS) to ing in the Long-term Care (LTC) Inquiry, be applied and the disclosure of male which was initiated in light of the tragic job classes. murders of eight vulnerable LTC residents LLAs ONA has finalized the GNCS with the in Woodstock and London nursing homes, OHA to be used to evaluate all ONA job ONA is participating in and monitoring classes and potential male job classes all aspects of the inquiry and providing within the hospital sector, the next step frequent updates to members and staff. is to develop a questionnaire that will LLDuring the inquiry, testimony emerged be completed by members and to select that the employer did not share vital the representative sample sites for com- ONA’s long-term care nurses are following information about Elizabeth Wettlaufer’s the LTC Inquiry closely petition of that questionnaire. performance with ONA, along with the LLLitigation with the community care role of for-profit nursing home owners, forming well, earning an investment access centres (Local Health Integration the failure of multiple players to listen return of 11.5 per cent after all expenses Networks) stemming from ONA’s May to nurses, the urgent need for more RNs last year, topping the 10.3 per cent in 2016. 2014 Application to the Pay Equity in the LTC sector, the lack of training for LLThanks to ONA lobbying, members work- Hearings Tribunal continues, with hear- coroners, and budget cuts resulting in ing in primary care received their second ing dates scheduled for August and fewer coroner investigations. wage and/or benefit enhancement while November. LLIt is great news for ONA members after some are now entitled to HOOPP. LLONA is currently making strategic deci- the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan LLONA provided a submission to the Pay sions regarding next steps to ensure NPs (HOOPP) announced that its funded Equity Hearings Tribunal for partici- announced by the government for long- status at the end of 2017 remains at a pating nursing homes to deal with the term care are in our Bargaining Units. very strong 122 per cent. jurisdiction of the tribunal to issue an LLHot topics and funding in long-term care LLThe Ontario Municipal Employees order on outstanding issues between (LTC) were the focus of our most recent Retirement System (OMERS) is also per- the parties, including the Gender LTC teleconnects.

Government Relations/Work with Allies

LLONA launched our newest provincial LLWe continue to support the Ontario campaign, RN Proud, which raises public Association of Interval and Transition awareness about the skills, experience, Houses, whose membership includes education and compassion RNs dem- emergency shelters for abused women onstrate every day in their work, while and their children, housing programs asking the provincial government to hire and community-based women’s ser- 10,000 RNs over the next four years to fill vice organizations, with a donation of current vacancies in hospitals. $10,000 annually for the years 2018, 2019 LLThe multi-faceted campaign consisted and 2020. of transit shelter ads featuring ONA LLIn preparation for the provincial elec- members highlighting the role RNs play tion, ONA prepared and enacted a cam- in health care, print ads, a social media paign, Nurses Know, Nurses Vote, which campaign and a revitalized dedicated was comprised of three weeks of phone website chock full of statistics. banks in our five regions, a postcard LLONA joined forces with the Registered on the three party platforms, literature Nurses’ Association of Ontario to hold for the candidates, robotexts, a mailed a media conference at Queen’s Park to letter, an email blast, and social media launch Nursing Week, calling on all pol- and website postings to help members RN Proud campaign transit ad itical parties to commit to making RN understand how the outcome of this staffing a health-care priority. election will impact their working con- CONTINUES

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ditions and their ability to provide safe, quality patient care, and “patchy” pharmaceutical insurance system that is fixable, encourage them to vote for health care. were presented. LLWith the RN share of nursing employment falling from 76.4 per cent in LLIn a meeting with NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, ONA 2003 to 69.8 per cent in 2017 and Ontario failing to meet the internation- President Vicki McKenna explained that the biggest al best practice ratio of 1:4 RNs for patients in hospitals, ONA President challenge for our members is the erosion of their work, Vicki McKenna met with (then) Minister of Health and Long-Term Care more layoffs, vacant positions not being posted/filled, Dr. Helena Jaczek and (then) Premier Kathleen Wynne to ask the gov- and RNs being replaced by RPNs in the hospital sector. ernment’s support for three ONA goals: ensuring the right care provided LLA continuing grant from ONA to the Stephen Lewis by the right care provider, protecting the safety of health-care workers, Foundation of $70,000 in June 2018 and $70,000 in June and supporting marginalized and disadvantaged women. 2019 will assist families and communities in sub-Saharan LLIn the lead-up to the provincial election, McKenna also asked the Africa infected with and affected by HIV and AIDS. same of representatives from the PC and NDP parties. LLThe government set up an advisory committee for health-workforce planning, and ONA is an active participant. LLONA President Vicki McKenna and First Vice-President Cathryn Hoy came out to support the Ontario Health Coalition’s (OHC) Time to Rebuild media stop outside Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, where OHC Executive Director Natalie Mehra highlighted two key asks for all political parties leading up to the provincial election: an immediate and significant infusion of funding for Ontario’s hospitals, and a commitment to open 30,000 new long-term care beds as quickly as possible. LLOne week before the provincial election, ONA urged PC leader Doug Ford to release a fully costed platform, which received widespread media attention. Joint ONA/RNAO media conference on RN numbers LLA letter to the editor, signed by a number of organizations representing more than 100,000 health professionals, including ONA, urged that Dan’s Law be passed to end a three-month waiting period for access to OHIP for Canadian residents who move or return to Ontario. LLDuring her meeting with (then) Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn, ONA President Vicki McKenna brought forward a number of issues, including the inclusion of nurses in post-traumatic stress disorder presump- tive legislation, and the health and safety of our members. LLWith partners the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the Canadian Health Coalition, ONA is continuing our efforts at the federal level on four national health priorities: Adequate funding of our ONA presence at OHC’s Time to Rebuild media stop health-care system; a health human resources plan to hire more nurses and stop RN cuts; a national Pharmacare program; and a safe seniors’ strategy to deal with severe understaffing in long- term, community and home care. LLONA Board members joined a CFNU breakfast on Parliament Hill for MPs and The RN Advantage health-care stakeholders, where find- ONA’s RN Advantage ings of the organization’s Body Count document was given to political parties to study, which calls attention to the daily highlight the problems occurrence of Canadians who die or fall in health care and our ONA President Vicki McKenna and First VP Cathryn Hoy solutions. take a turn at our provincial election phone banks sick both from curable illnesses and a

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Human Rights/Accommodation/Return to Work

LLMembers of ONA’s Human Rights and of the law related to sexual harassment Equity (HRE) Team, along with Region 1 and a discussion of the resources avail- Vice-President Pam Mancuso and team able to our members. project manager Sheila Riddell, joined LLThe HRE Team has updated all of our PhD student Jacqueline Scott for a fascin- posters and “shareables” for our key ating Black History Tour of Toronto, which commemorative dates: International one member called “eye-opening.” Women’s Day, International Day for the LLIn keeping with the times, the Board Elimination of Racial Discrimination, of Directors passed a motion to Day of Mourning, Labour Day, National replace the term “Aboriginal” in Indigenous Peoples Day and Pride. all ONA correspondence and com- LLBlack History Month will now be one of munications with the more inclusive those key commemorative dates, with “Indigenous.” ONA material to accompany it. LLLabour Relations Officers and specialists LLONA’s Pride committee planned for a The HRE Team and Region 1 VP Pam received specific education on how staff large ONA presence at the biggest Pride Mancuso embark on a Black History Tour and Bargaining Unit leaders can access Parade in the country – Toronto Pride the practical tools and checklists to – and members and staff came out in and recognizes their invaluable work assist them in advocating for members droves! improving the health and well-being of seeking accommodation. LLMembers outside of Toronto also heed- Canadians. LLONA’s Accommodation and Attendance ed our call to join a Pride event near LLIn recognition of National Indigenous Management educational modules have them, including Thunder Bay, London, Peoples Day, retired member Carolyn been extensively revised in accord- Barrie, Chatham and Windsor. Edgar, along with Region 1 Vice- ance with our newly updated guides on LLTo highlight the importance of Pride President Pam Mancuso, Region 2 Vice- Accommodation and Return to Work to our union and our members, ONA President Bernie Robinson and Region 3 and Attendance Management. launched a series of transit shelter and Vice-President Andy Summers, got up LLThe first Human Rights teleconnect of print ads, RN Pride, featuring several of bright and early for a Sunrise Ceremony 2018 – “#Me Too and Time’s Up: A Sea our members in the LGBTQ+ community. at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. Change for Sexual Harassment Issues?” LLONA joined with individuals, labour LLWe continue to work with other employ- – walked participants through the his- unions and other organizations to rec- ers to establish joint programs that pro- tory of these movements to identify ognize Indigenous Nurses Day, which mote a strong health and safety culture, what has changed and where things highlights the achievements of Canada’s linking return to work with disability may be headed, including a summary First Nations, Inuit and Métis nurses prevention.

Board and retired members show support at a Sunrise Ceremony for National Pets are welcome at Thunder Pride! Indigenous Peoples Day

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Local Political Action/Member Engagement

LLWhile ONA launched the next phase of our Nurses Know campaign provincially (RN Proud), members embraced it at the Local level, engaging the public, media and key decision-makers in communities across the Ontario. LLMembers overwhelmingly responded to a public poll on our campaign website, which asked, Should the Ontario government make it a priority to hire 10,000 RNs over the next four years? LLThe poll held steady throughout the campaign, with 94 per cent in favour and more than 7,500 responses. LLMany Locals are taking advantage of the Algoma Public Health nurses stage an info picket over stalled contract talks $1,000 available to them each year spe- cifically for political action work (Policy cation in oncology and palliative care. 26.11) and include that in their budget LLMembers from Local 49 and their col- preparations. leagues represented by OPSEU and LLLocal 8 (Windsor) members launched a CUPE staged a march and rally outside new public awareness campaign, com- Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital prised of four powerful commercials to protest their employer’s decision showing in cinemas and on social media to slash three full-time RNs from the and digital screens in Windsor-Essex, to inpatient unit over the past year, leaving highlight the serious risk of workplace staff shortages and devastating gaps in violence in health care. the nursing schedule. Members get their hands dirty for a good LLHotel-Dieu Grace Hospital Bargaining LLPrior to the provincial election, Marshall cause at the June PCM Unit President Jo-Dee Brown has become Gowland Manor Bargaining Unit only the 30th RN in Ontario – and the first President Julie Sexton met up with NDP Park to relay an important message: the mental health RN – to receive a nurs- Leader Andrea Horwath during an elec- residents of this province deserve four ing designation from Toronto’s de Souza tion stop in Sarnia and challenged her hours of daily nursing and personal care Institute, which provides continuing edu- to keep her party’s platform promise in long-term care (LTC) homes as a min- to bring change to Ontario’s long-term imum standard – something for which care system. ONA and our allies have long lobbied. LLLocal 100 (London) produced a com- LLLocal 42 Coordinator Patricia mercial about emergency wait times, O’Shaughnessy was successful in get- cleverly making the point that people ting the Mayor of Cornwall to read wouldn’t wait hours for help if they were a Nursing Week proclamation, which being attacked in their home or if their O’Shaughnessy attended along with house was on fire. Cornwall Community Hospital’s Vice- LLFor the third year in a row, delegates at President of Patient Services and Chief the June Provincial Coordinators Meeting Nursing Officer. gave back to their host community, get- LLBargaining Unit leaders from each ting their hands dirty painting and doing region were tapped to take a lead in gardening work at three women’s shel- ONA’s provincial election phone banks ters and a Habitat for Humanity build, in our Toronto, London, Hamilton and Members in all regions take a lead which was deeply appreciated. Ottawa offices to encourage members in provincial election phone banks LLONA members joined a rally at Queen’s to vote for health care, and noted that

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Speaking for vulnerable long-term care residents at the Make Members protest cuts at Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital Time to Care rally

while they were concerned about their of Local 7 have been working without comfort level, they gained valuable skills a contract since December 31, 2017; a and would do it again in a heartbeat. settlement was reached shortly after. LLDozens of other members, retirees LLTo coincide with Nursing Week, Locals and staff volunteered to operate those 81 (Lake of the Woods) and 17 (Muskoka) phone banks, talking to our members produced heartfelt and humourous vid- and leading the charge. eos highlighting the true value of RNs. LLSunnybrook Health Sciences Centre LLONA launched a successful email cam- emergency department charge nurse paign on behalf of public health nurses Miranda Lamb was approached by num- and NPs at Algoma Public Health, who Proclaiming Nursing Week in Region 2! erous media outlets – and our own Front had been without a contract since April Lines magazine! – to tell the story of how 2017, telling the Algoma Board of Health, LLMembers at the Women’s College the entire hospital team came together local councillors and MPP Ross Romano Hospital’s Family Practice Health Centre, to care for the victims of the van attack that these professionals deserved a col- concerned over the layoff of four full- in Toronto. lective agreement that is respectful of time RNs – half the RN staff – amped up LLLocal 2 arranged for electronic billboards their skill, knowledge and dedication to their political action activities, which to be displayed in Sudbury, urging passers- their patients and communities. included two well-attended rallies, an by to vote for health care on June 7. LLPublic Health Nurse Gaynor Quieros, email campaign and a presentation of LLKeen to avoid a repeat of 2012, when they who works for Niagara Region Mental our petition to the Board. were forced to strike for 12 days, public Health, was named the Joan Lesmond LLONA members continued to stand up health nurses working in the counties Internationally Educated Nurse of the for their patients and stand out from the of Haldimand and Norfolk marched to Year, presented by the CARE Centre in crowd of health providers by embracing the local council chamber with a mega- recognition of her dedication and pro- the Wear White on Wednesdays cam- phone to remind them that 33 members fessionalism. paign.

Actors practice their moves for Local Rally brings attention to devastating Public health nurses from Haldimand-Norfolk Health 8’s anti-violence ad cuts at WCH’s Family Practice Centre Unit let it be known they deserve a new contract

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Health and Safety/WSIB

LLONA continued to remind members to LLWe are participating on an advisory recommendations, including the adop- report all workplace violence incidents, table for the MOL-funded project, tion of the precautionary principle. which is their legal duty, so that employ- Setting Priorities: Building Capacity for LLHealth and Safety Vice-Presidents from ers are aware of all workplace hazards Joint Health and Safety Committees, London Health Sciences Centre organ- and can act on them and so the Ministries which will identify current occupational ized an education day, which provided of Labour and Health and Long-Term exposures in workplaces. Local 100 members with basic training Care understand how serious this issue LLONA staff attended the annual spring on the Occupational Health and Safety is and fund and enforce preventive items Labour Forum of the Institute for Work Act, violence in the workplace, and next for worker protection and patient safety. and Health to provide input into its steps to make improvements. LLThe second phase of the government’s research agenda. LLJessica Szmiett, a crisis intervention Leadership Table, with working groups LLONA acknowledged the 15th anniversary nurse at Bluewater Health, shared her for hospitals, homes and community, of SARS by remembering the lives lost, touching story of how ONA helped when which include ONA members and staff, including ONA members Nelia Laroza her long-term disability was denied commenced with ONA President Vicki and Tecla Lin, and those who became ill after a shocking event brought her trau- McKenna representing our union on the and were quarantined, and continuing matic childhood to the surface. Executive Team. to push for implementation of all Justice LLONA joined with labour and social jus- LLThe government indicated that many Archie Campbell’s SARS Commission tice organizations from across Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) inspectors have had violence training as a result of the 23 consensus recommendations stemming from the first phase of the Leadership Table, and we are following up. LLONA continues to work with the College of Nurses of Ontario, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario and the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario to develop a Nurse Health Program for our members with mental health issues, including addictions. LLLocal 124 Coordinator DJ Sanderson spoke to Front Lines about the award he received from the Workers Health & Safety Centre and Region 3 for outstand- Local 100 members receive health and safety education ing services and dedication to improving the work environment, acknowledging that it is a team effort. LLThroughout the province, ONA members attended somber Day of Mourning events to honour those who have been killed or injured on the job, including fellow members, and call for change. LLONA President Vicki McKenna wrote to the Minister of Labour with concerns about the impact of MOL enforcement direction on the health-care workforce, after a member refused to work with a flagged violent patient without all rea- Region 3 VP Andy Summers leads ONA’s contingent Health and Safety Caucus at Toronto’s Day of Mourning event in Region 3 sonable precautions.

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in recognizing Injured Workers’ Day, and standing up for those who have Member Education been injured or made ill as a result of LLONA workshops continued to be popu- their work. lar, with a total of 96 full-day, 39 half- LLA donation of $600 was provided day and 20 lecturettes delivered in the by ONA to the Occupational Health first few months of 2018, and approxi- Clinics for Ontario Workers’ Sudbury mately 1,500 members in attendance. Clinic’s Repetitive Strain Injury LLELearning, which provides free online Awareness Conference. education to ONA members, was a LLAs a result of our advocacy in health favourable option, with approximately and safety, a number of employers 188 program completions in the first are now working with our Bargaining few months of 2018 for the 25 program Unit leaders on violence programs, offerings. including the Centre for Addiction LLThe most popular eLearning pro- and Mental Health in Toronto and grams are Professional Responsibility The Ottawa Hospital. Workload Report Form – Hospital Sector; LLONA is working with the Public Harassment, Mobbing and Bullying; Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Stéphane Services Health and Safety Return to Work Level I: Is Your Workplace Grenier headlines June PCM education Association, in conjunction with the Making You Sick?; Return to Work Level Ministry of Health and Long-Term II: Legislation; Professional Responsibility Workload Reporting Process: Allied Health Care, on the development of an Sector; and Workplace Safety and Insurance Act: What You Need to Know. Organizational Risk Assessment pro- LLONA’s Membership Education and Events Team, in conjunction with the Information gram framework for infectious dis- Technology Team, is investigating options for our eLearning platform that will ensure a ease threat exposure in health organ- robust environment for our adult learners into the future. izations, which will be developed LLMembers continue to embrace video lecturettes, with 174 completions from January first for hospitals and then adapted to April 2018. to other health-care organizations. LLThe most popular of our 14 video lecturettes include Duty to Accommodate; LLUnder the theme, Violence...Are Understanding Conflict; ONA Professional Practice; Harassment, Mobbing and Bullying; You at Risk? Who, How and When and RN/RPN Scope of Practice and the CNO Three Factor Framework. to Assess Risk, ONA’s regional spring LLONA President Vicki McKenna launched a series of popular podcasts on hot-topic Health and Safety Caucuses were issues to add to our wide range of communications vehicles for our members, nursing held throughout the province to students and the public. discuss workplace violence and the LLConcurrent education workshops at the Joint Sector Meeting focused on key labour value of comprehensive and accur- relations topics, such as transforming long-term care, safe home care visits, winning ate expert risk assessments. practices to safeguard collective agreements, the duty to accommodate, and the LLA webinar option for the Caucus, grievance process. open to all, was also offered. LLA call was issued for applications for our popular LLONA has endorsed an important Leadership Summit and Activist Camp, to be held Leadership Summit 12:00 noon Sep tember 17 - 11:30 am Sep Oakw tember 21, 2018 research project called, The Impact in Grand Bend this fall, with 30 spots available for ood Resort, Grand Bend, ON of Organizational Programs and three concurrent education streams: Advanced, 3 You stand up for what y ou believe in. Supports on the Psychological Health Novice and Activist. 3 You speak up f or nurses’ rights. 3 You’re pas sionate about patient c Outcomes of Workers Exposed to A very well-received education session at the 3 are. LL You believe that , together, we can mak e a difference. Patient Violence in Long-Term Care June Provincial Coordinators Meeting featured 3 You have the c ourage to lead.

One of these and Home Care Organizations. retired Lieutenant-Colonel Stéphane Grenier, leadership opportunitie s may be right for you! Novice A new Barg Advanc LLThe most recent health and safe- who spoke about his undiagnosed post-traumat- aining Unit President ed Unit R , ep or future ONA leader? An ONA leader with 2-3 y ears of experienc Learn how to be a be e and knowledg tter leader of the c e with education on emerging is ollective agreement? ty webinar focused on “Violence ic stress disorder and depression after returning griev sues, ances, health & saf Learn how t ety, human o use your voic rights, and pr and cr e ofessional pr eate a strat actice. egy to engage Prevention: Personal Safety Response from a mission in Rwanda during the 1994 geno- and mobilize members.

Only 50 spo ts available System Toolkit,” which included a cide, and the need for workplaces to foster an Nurses know. Find out mor e and apply today www.ona.org/leader discussion on the purpose of the open, non-stigmatized approach to mental ship CONTINUES toolkit, a legislation review, defin- health. ition and descriptions. ONA UPDATE: SUMMER 2018 ONTARIO NURSES’ ASSOCIATION 9 109045-2(August 3, 2018 / ona_work13:31:52) of the union summer_p10.pdf .1

Communications Professional Issues

LLOur website received more than 462,000 page views the firsts few months of this year, with the most visited being our Nursing Week coverage in May and all of the bargaining updates. LLONA’s collective agreements continue to be popular with more than 26,000 downloads. LLOther popular pages include ONA job lists, the contact ONA page, insurance and benefits, and the workshop calendar. LLONA Facebook has more than 24,300 followers, which is more than CUPE National (23,000+), OPSEU (11,000) and SEIU Healthcare Canada (8,000+)! Kirkland Lake members celebrate Nursing Week with ONA President Vicki McKenna LLOne week after the launch of the RN and First VP Cathryn Hoy Proud campaign, ONA Facebook gained more than 400 followers, and by the LLONA continued to make gains for our members in addressing their workload and end of the second week, our campaign professional practice complaints (PRCs) and have been able to reach settlements social media ads on Facebook were prior to having to advance to an Independent Assessment Committee (IAC). liked, shared and commented on more LLOne such significant settlement addressed the serious workload issues of RNs at than 13,000 times! the Runnymede Healthcare Centre after the employer cut back one-half of all the LLOur Twitter followers are also at an all- RN hours with no increase in RPN hours, securing the posting of 3.5 full-time RN time high of 15,700, which makes it one positions, and that the employer will ensure all RN shifts are filled on the schedule of the top union Twitter sites in Canada, prior to being posted. with users continuing to retweet infor- LLAfter the Board made it their priority to secure a commitment from the govern- mation related to the work of our union. ment to step away from plans to consider allowing RPNs to extend their scope of practice into four key areas of the RN scope without any consultation from ONA, (then) Minister of Health and Long-Term Care sent a letter to the CNO directing it to immediately halt any consideration of an expanded scope and instead set up a thorough consultation process with key nursing organizations, including ONA. LLONA continued to work with our Canadian Blood Services Bargaining Units as workload issues increased while donor associates screened patients, instead of more appropriate RNs. LLMembers were invited to participate in a University of Toronto study into the role of professional discipline of nurses, including how they believe the process impacts professional development and conduct, as well as health-care delivery. LLUnder the theme, Better care starts here, Nursing Week 2018 was a roaring success, with members throughout the province holding special events to celebrate and acknowledge their caring profession. LLONA President Vicki McKenna provided an uplifting Nursing Week video message, thanking members for everything they do for their patients and our union. LLDuring their Nursing Week visits in all regions of Ontario, the Board heard some common concerns: workload issues, the serious lack of safe staffing levels, workplace violence and surge capacity problems. LLONA welcomed news that NPs trained in palliative care are being given the authority to independently prescribe high-strength, long-acting opioids, which they could previously do only by consulting with a physician registered under the Ministry of

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Local 68 welcomes ONA President Vicki McKenna to Nursing Week events Health Sciences North declares Health-care Professionals Day

Health and Long-Term Care’s Palliative Care Facilitated Access Program. LLNPs also gained the authority to apply and order ultrasounds without restrictions, with the government working on the necessary changes to the Health Insurance Act and Independent Health Facilities Act to ensure that all ultrasounds NPs order, and the interpretation of those ultrasounds, are insured. LLONA joined with our social workers in acknowledging the unique skills they forms used to determine eligibility for bring to our health-care system during the Ontario Disability Support Program, Social Work Week, under the theme, as well as medical review forms. Social Workers on the Front Lines of Real LLThe most recent NP teleconnect provid- Issues. ed listeners with an opportunity to hear Organizing LLONA continues to struggle with the an update on the CNO register; Canadian College of Nurses of Ontario’s stance Federation of Nurses Unions research; LLONA welcomed 19 new members on what its Find a Nurse public register the NP wage grid in hospitals; and two from Extendicare Van Daele in Sault should say with respect to NPs who recent victories under the Public Sector Ste. Marie after a successful certifi- choose not to complete the special Labour Relations Transition Act. cation vote. education that will allow them to pre- LLONA was proud to recognize the vital LLOver the past year, ONA has gained scribe controlled substances. role played by physiotherapists, who more than 300 new members, who LLIn recognition of the one-year anniver- use their specialized, hands-on clin- wanted to receive the stellar services sary of ONA’s impressive win to repre- ical skills to assess, diagnose and treat that our union provides. sent the health-care professionals at symptoms of illness, injury or disability, LLThe Retention and Recruitment Team Sudbury’s Health Sciences North, the and improve people’s overall quality fielded calls from RNs and health- Bargaining Unit declared June 14 Health- of life, during National Physiotherapy care professionals seeking the bene- care Professionals Day. Month. fits that ONA membership offers, and LL“Overcrowding is not the New Norm” LLWith the provincial election on the additional campaigns are underway. was the subject of the most recent pro- horizon, the most recent Secretaries LLWe also continued to monitor the fessional practice teleconnect, which teleconnect walked them through “the transfer of health services across the highlighted overcrowding in hospitals Good, the Bad and the Necessary in province and are filing PSLRTA appli- and the impact on patient care, along the Election Process,” including the cations when necessary to protect with a discussion on RN burnout. role they play, accountabilities and best our work. LLRNs can now complete all sections of practices.

ONA UPDATE: SUMMER 2018 ONTARIO NURSES’ ASSOCIATION 11 109045-2(August 3, 2018 / ona_work13:31:54) of the union summer_p12.pdf .1

Student Affiliation

LLNew Canadian Nursing Students’ Association (CNSA) Ontario Regional Director Daniela Monachino, a University of Toronto nursing student, attended her first ONA provincial meeting – the Joint Sector Meeting – to get to know our union and those who lead it. LLAt the June Provincial Coordinators Meeting, Monachino addressed an ONA provincial meeting for the first time, noting the support of ONA has been tre- mendously beneficial in not only helping her in her CNSA role, but moving the issues of students forward, and that our members ignite her passion for continuing in a leadership role when she The entire ONA Board surrounds the new CNSA Ontario Regional Director graduates. LLONA will be working closely with Monachino during her one- year term on nursing student concerns. LLONA President Vicki McKenna was joined by Monachino and Caitlyn Leung, official CNSA delegate from York University, in a meeting with Ontario Chief Nursing Officer Michelle Acorn, where we identified the top barriers for nursing students, including quality and choice of placements, inconsistent and unnecessary restrictions on nursing student practice, a lack of respect and a need for better support from clinical instructors, and a lack of remuneration for the work of student nurses in clinical settings. CNSA Ontario Regional Director Daniela Monachino addresses June LLIn response, the Chief Nursing Officer, who will be meeting with PCM delegates on how instrumental ONA is to nursing students us again in the fall to continue these talks, committed to several items, including discussing the issue of consistent evaluation is the ex-officio Board member of the Registered Nurses’ of nursing students across institutions/instructors, reviewing a Foundation of Ontario, to its gala dinner, where scholarships consistent standard for provincial placement for nursing stu- totalling $105,000 were handed out to nursing students, RNs and dents, and contacting the university and college associations RPNs furthering their studies. to discuss further strategies. LLBoard members continued to participate in regular conference LLMonachino and Leung also accompanied Region 1 Vice- calls with CNSA leaders and campus delegates to learn about President Pam Mancuso, Region 5 Vice-President Karen their issues firsthand so we can take them forward to the gov- Bertrand and Region 2 Vice-President Bernie Robinson, who ernment and nursing stakeholders.

ONTARIO NURSES’ ASSOCIATION 85 Grenville St., Ste. 400 Toronto ON M5S 3A2 Tel: (416) 964-8833 • Toll-free: 1-800-387-5580 Fax: (416) 964-8864

* To view “Work of the Union: Spring 2018 Update,” see the March/April issue of Front Lines or log onto the ONA website at www.ona.org/workoftheunion.

12 ONA UPDATE: SUMMER 2018 ONTARIO NURSES’ ASSOCIATION