10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday April 28, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Region and public health nurses at an impasse By Melanie Hennessey SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Talks between Halton Region and the Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) have broken down over a new contract for the health department's permanent part-time nurses. According to the association, the two sides don't see eye-to-eye when it comes to wages, benefit packages and more for the 120 affected registered nurses and nurse practi- tioners in Local 1. Negotiations have been underway since the last threeyear contract expired March 31, 2006 and recently ended after the union didn't accept the Region's final offer. Now the matter has to go before a mediator and if that fails, the nurses could go on strike. "ONA understands the valuable role that part-time workers play in health care by providing the employer with flexibility to meet the needs of the community," said ONA president Linda Haslam-Stroud. "Our part-time members deserve equitable treatment with our full-time members and should be provided a reasonable percentage-in-lieu of benefits." She added that considering the benefits full-time nurses get, ONA believes part-timers should get an additional 15 per cent in lieu of benefits. The association also claims that Halton pays its senior public health nurses between five and 10 per cent less than other health units in the GTA. "In order to catch up with other public health units and their projected wage increases, Halton nurses would have to receive approximately a 15 per cent increase over three years," alleged Haslam-Stroud. Halton acting Director of Human Resources John Phelan said he can't comment on the salary numbers presented by the union, noting they would have come from the ONA's market analysis. He wouldn't provide details on what Halton is offering the nurses. "We don't negotiate through the media," he said, noting it wouldn't be fair. The ONA indicated it will soon apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Board for conciliation -- a mediation process. "We are still hopeful we can reach an agreement through that process," Phelan noted. But if that process fails, both sides agree the nurses will then be in a legal strike position. Haslam-Stroud said she knows the nurses don't want to hit the picket line. "They want to be there for the public of Halton Region," she said. The nurses provide public health services across Halton, including outbreak protection through things like flu vaccine clinics, health education and promotion for families with new babies and sexual health clinics and education. -- Melanie Hennessey can be reached at mhennessey@miltoncanadianchampion.com. MAY 5 IS 7 PM SESSION SUPER SATURDAY! TWO LINE GAMES ONE LINE GAMES $ 300 $ 600 3 Check out: 2000 Jackpots & 3 1000 Jackpots All other sessions feature $ 150 Lines, $300 Two-Lines $ $ All In Your 7 Page Book In Your 7 Page Book Everyday or call the Hotline: 905 www.meadowvalebingo.com 821-7883 for further details 2295 Battleford Road, Mississauga Meadowvale Sponsors Assoc. Lic. #M507568 & P062004 A pr E E il N 29 DS th SA L