‘I’d like to see it done before Christmas’: N.B. government still trying to reach agreement with nurses
A strike vote is looming for the New Brunswick Nurses Union – after the rejection of two tentative agreements this fall.
The union is planning a town hall information session for members on Tuesday, and are 'gearing up' to take strike votes later this week. But the N.B. government said Friday, talks are ongoing and have remained positive.
“We all want to see it happen sooner than later,” said N.B. Health Minister Dorothy Shephard. “And certainly when I did some travels last week throughout the province, we talked to medical staff about safety, so I know that’s top of mind.”
Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nurse managers and supervisors have been without a contract since Dec. 2018.
President of the NBNU, Paula Doucet, has described difficult working conditions, including 24 hour shifts, violent incidents, denied vacation and burnout. There are hundreds of vacant nursing positions across the province – and the pandemic has made the shortage even more difficult.
“After two rejected tentative agreements, nurses in this province are sending a message to government and employers that enough is enough and things need to start changing for the better,” she said Sunday. “It’s a difficult thing for nurses to do, but they have found their strength collectively to demand better for themselves and the patients/residents/clients they provide healthcare to in N.B.”
Premier Blaine Higgs said they’ve reviewed nurses’ shift schedules, and acknowledge they can be grueling.
He also recognized issues around workplace safety, and said they are trying to find ways to make hospitals safer.
“It’s kind of unconscionable, to think that we’re at an age in time where our hospitals are not safe to go to work,” he said. “I think it’s unfortunate that someone is in the position to work longer shifts than anyone should be expected to, but not only once or now and then because of an emergency – but quite routinely. And they’ve made it clear they just can’t have a work/life balance without that being addressed, and I don’t disagree.”
Higgs said he’s hoping an agreement can be reached before Christmas.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
Amish youth experience a rite of passage called Rumspringa. It’s not what you might think
The idea of “Rumspringa” has a specific spot in the American imagination. A rite of passage for young people in some Amish communities, Rumspringa is seen by most outsiders as a wild time away from strict Amish rules, when teenagers can experiment with the modern vices of the world.
Djokovic needs medical attention after getting knocked on the head by a water bottle at Italian Open
Novak Djokovic needed medical attention after apparently getting knocked on the head by a water bottle after a win at the Italian Open on Friday.