The Ontario Nurses Association has responded to Mayor Kristal Chopp’s public statements regarding ongoing grievances between both sides.
Recently, during a council meeting, Chopp brought the in-camera complaints into the public eye, you can read about that here.
While the report and Chopp’s words mostly reflected a shift from 70 hours to 80 hours and a change in hours worked per day, Public Health Nurse at the Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit Melanie Holjak says the issue at hand is actually about several shift changes and tons of extra overtime being done by health care staff in the area.
Holjack, who is also the ONA local bargaining unit president, said at the end of the day most of these grievances could have been avoided, had they hired enough staff to avoid the overtime.
As for the main issue brought up at council, Holjack says they are asking for stability and to follow the contract they signed.
As for Chopp’s comments regarding RPN’s, Holjack said they are valuable resources and that there is a welcome place for them at various job sites across the county.
