To the Editor,

Public Health RN: Why I am on strike (Letters, September 7) certainly struck a chord.

If you are anything like me, you often wait until an issue affects you personally before you jump in and get involved. And maybe even then, you are reluctant to voice your opinion because it may just be too much trouble. It was after my Mom was hospitalized and then sent to palliative care, that I appreciated the work and compassion of her nursing staff. It was after my grandson was born prematurely that I recognized the strength, expertise and kindness of the attending nurses. It wasn’t until I volunteered at the PEC Memorial hospital that I witnessed the day in, day out, stress that our nurses are under. And I was especially touched during COVID when the bravery of our local public health nurses enabled their stepping up to help us, during a time of great stress to the community.

It took a Letter to the Editor to make me realize that I should be doing more.

Frankly, I am baffled about why, in today’s environment, any nurse in Canada is required to beg for a decent wage. Our Health Unit is on strike because 50 voices in a sea of provincial issues are drowned out by the sound of management’s refusal to negotiate in good faith, the community’s indifference to the issues, and a client base reluctant to speak for itself.

That is the most important point, isn’t it? What is the constituency that is directly impacted by this strike and reluctant to publicly voice support for the Health Unit nurses? Perhaps your daughter, who desperately needs privacy after seeking birth control, or your neighbour, whose mental health issues are clouding his mind, or your spouse, whose transmitted disease needs addressing. These services are desperately needed by our families, our neighbours, and our community. We should voice our support for those unable to speak for themselves.

I hope that you will not need the services of our nurses, nor have to experience their expertise and dedication through the illness of a loved one, but the odds are you will. Support them now, as they will tirelessly be there for you when you need them.

Kathy Larson

Northport