The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 966, representing almost 300 Public Health Nurses in Peel Region, are meeting a Conciliator starting December 16, to move forward and reach a fair agreement before Christmas.
Peel’s Public Nurses provide health services to Brampton, Caledon, Mississauga, and the surrounding areas. These nurses serve more than 1.2 million people with information and health prevention to ensure residents and workers can obtain credible information on preventing illness and improving their health. Service includes providing adult/teen prenatal education support; breastfeeding support, parenting call centre and clinic support; home visiting for high risk families with children; sexual health education, health promotion at clinics and in the community; immunization and communicable disease investigations, supporting schools as well as health promotion and injury prevention education in multiple locations.
“This employer has given salary increases to management and non-union staff in 2010 and we are not going to be left out” said Mary-Jo Falle, president of CUPE 966. “We are at the start the flu season and our employer wants to change our hours of work, and this is unacceptable to our members” she added.
The union has been in negotiations since September 2010 and has held a strike vote; 97% of members gave their bargaining team a strike mandate. “We will do our best to reach a settlement in conciliation” said Ms. Falle. “If management does not make an effort to address our concerns, we will be facing a strike in the new year. We urge newly elected councilors to summon management, so we can discuss a fair offer before Christmas” she added.