Saskatchewan Union of Nurses might go on strike

In Saskatchewan, angry union leaders were assessing their options Thursday, a day after the provincial government proposed sweeping changes to labour law, including new essential services legislation.

It appears health care workers could be the first on the battles lines early in 2008 in the fight against the legislation.

Major contracts affecting health care workers, including the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses (SUN) which represents more than 7,000 registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, are slated to expire March 31.

Union leaders said Thursday they are not pleased by the essential services legislation.

While no one talked specifically about going on strike in defiance of essential services legislation, similar actions have happened in the past, such as in 1999 when SUN continued on strike in defiance of back-to-work legislation introduced by the NDP government in power at the time.

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Victorian Order of Nurses protest in Hamilton on Friday

Tomorrow, Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) registered nurses employed by St. Joseph's Home Care, will join their President, Linda Haslam-Stroud, RNs and other unionized nurses to protest the competitive bidding process that will result in the loss of more than 200 jobs.

The ONA home care RNs will join OPSEU members in Hamilton as their employers, St. Joseph's Home Care and the Victorian Order of Nurses, are briefed by the local Community Care Access Centre on why they have been eliminated from the competitive bidding process to provide home care services for area residents.

ONA represents the 59 RNs who work for St. Joseph's and who have provided home care services for decades.

The Association is urging its RNs to consider nursing positions outside of the community sector unless the government guarantees successor rights that would provide job security for nurses, and most importantly, continuity of care for the residents of the community.

ONA is the union representing 53,000 registered nurses and allied health professionals working in Ontario hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community and industry.

The protest will take place tomorrow at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Hamilton.

Source: CNW Group

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Victorian Order of Nurses to be made redundant

Manitoba college closes applications for Registered Nurse program

At Manitoba's Red River College, the waiting list for nurses who want to upgrade their skills has become so long that the school is no longer accepting new applications from them.

The college has sent out letters to Licensed Practical Nurse applicants indicating it had suspended accepting applications from LPNs to the accelerated RN program, which takes about two years.

Some nurses have already been on the waiting list for over 5 years.

Twenty-five LPNs are on the waiting list for the college's accelerated RN program, so no more will be allowed to apply, at least for now, said Louise Gordon, spokeswoman for nursing programs at the college.

"It's simply because we don't believe it's fair to have people wait for that long," she said, noting the waiting list is about five years long.

Goverment promises 100 more places

As reported on Monday, some Manitoba LPNs, frustrated by the wait, are opting to upgrade at Northland College in Minnesota, despite obstacles including higher cost, certification exams and a requirement to attend classes in the U.S. about two days a week.

Health Minister Theresa Oswald said the NDP has committed to opening 100 new spaces for students of nursing.

"We're, on one level, quite delighted that there are lots of people that want to be nurses in Manitoba. It's, on one level, a good problem to have, rather than clamouring for human resources," she said.

"But certainly we know that for every particular program that we created quite recently at Red River, for LPNs to upgrade to RNs, that there is a waiting list that is not satisfactory to people."

However, where those spots will open and for which nursing programs has yet to be determined.

CBC News

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Nurses in Manitoba moving south to improve skills