An end to striking public healthcare workers has come to Hastings Prince Edward Public Health.

A  six week strike by the members of the Ontario Nurses Association Local 31 came to end Saturday night when the union announced the 50 members had reached a tentative agreement with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH).

Local public health nurses had been on the picket lines dating back to Mon. Aug 21, The tentative agreement – which was ratified by the ONA members – must be ratified by the employer before details are released. The agreement includes wage increases of more than two per cent in each year of a three-year agreement, which the nurses had demanded since the beginning of bargaining.

Councillor Kate McNaughton. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)

Then, after 10 days on strike, frontline public health workers represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3144 reached a tentative agreement with HPEPH on Monday.

A ratification vote for CUPE members has been scheduled for Tuesday. The terms of the tentative agreement will not be released publicly until workers have had a chance to review and vote on them first.

A domino effect in labour strife at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health may have begun last week in Prince Edward County.

Councillors John Hirsch and Kate MacNaughton announced their resignations from the Hastings Prince Edward Board of Health to colleagues at Shire Hall Tuesday. Both cited discomfort with the direction and pace of labour negotiations between the Board and the two Nurses unions currently on strike.

With members of the Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) Local 31 in the gallery at Shire Hall looking on, Councillor Hirsch said he could no longer countenance HPEPH’s approach to the ongoing strikes.

In Councillor Hirsch’s view, the many members in this community unable to access vital services and care cannot be expected to weather prolonged strikes.

“A new and more transparent approach needs to be taken to quickly resolve the labour disputes and bring employees back to work, the very people we rely on to safeguard our public health,” he said.

“I am not a quitter but I feel my resignation is the only way I can raise attention to the issues on our Board of Health.”

Councillor MacNaughton said she had pondered the decision to step down from the HPEPH Board for some time.

“I had hoped to stay on to advocate for transparent fair-minded practice, but I don’t see any benefit to be derived by my presence at the Board so I am also stepping down,” Councillor MacNaughton said.

About 50 Public Health Nurses represented by Local 31 are entering their sixth week of labour action and were joined on the picket lines by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3314 Monday. About 70 non-nursing public health workers voted to strike earlier this month after negotiations between the Board of Health and the union surrounding wages and benefits broke off. CUPE public health workers have been without a contract since January 1. They include public health inspectors, a Smoke-Free Ontario (SFO) enforcement officer, certified dental assistants, registered dental hygienists, and others.

Local 31 Bargaining Unit President Josh Davidson Marcon said the union was shocked to learn of the sudden resignation of the Prince Edward County Councillors. he said such actions required bravery and showed dedication to the community.