A day commemorating workers was the backdrop of an event in which the personal side of striking nurses was shown.
Eleven of the 86 nurses with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, who have been on strike for seven weeks, took part in an International Workers Day event at the Unifor Local 444-200 Hall in Windsor on Wednesday. The purpose of the event was for the nurses to describe the specialized jobs they do, which are not readily available due to the labour dispute.
By themselves or in pairs, the nurses approached the podium and discussed the particular qualifications needed for their jobs, which ranged from post-natal care to school wellness to sexual health. They told stories about how clients who require their services are having a difficult time accessing them, and are urging the health unit to return to the bargaining table and work toward ending the strike.
Kim McAlpine, a nurse practitioner who specializes in providing pre and post-natal care to many women who are newcomers, said her job requires skills that are not currently at the ready.
"I take care of women and children who don't have access to a family doctor," said McAlpine. "That may be because they're new to the area or new to the country. Some of them don't even have health insurance yet."
McAlpine said because public health nurses are not working at the moment, her clients are forced to find alternate sources for help, such as walk-in clinics, which are costly for those without OHIP. However, she says organizations like the Multicultural Council of Windsor-Essex have stepped up to help a few patients with their needs.
Other nurses talked about how they are unable to provide counselling to people who come to them discreetly about sexual health, or birth control to people who may not be able to afford it at above-cost prices. Those who work with vaccination said their hands are tied because they are unable to provide shots to students in schools.
The public health nurses, represented by the Ontario Nurses Association, walked out in a dispute over wages and wage parity. Offers have been introduced on both sides but no agreement has been reached. The health unit says rising costs make it difficult to meet the ONA's contract demands.