‘Sounding the alarm’: Public health nurses in Algoma say they’re underpaid, overworked

“Our skilled nurses are sounding the alarm about the growing crisis in public health,” says ONA Provincial President Erin Ariss. “Chronic understaffing, increased workloads and stagnant wages are pushing the system — and those who rely on it — to the breaking point.

“Nurses working in northern communities are on the front lines of essential public health services, from maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, vaccinations and infectious disease case management to emergency response. Despite their critical role, these nurses are paid some of the lowest wages in the province.”

Ariss notes that “these nurses carried their communities through a global pandemic and a large measles outbreak, yet their work continues to be undervalued. Falling behind other health units makes it impossible to recruit and retain staff – and the public will pay the price.”

During conciliation, the nurses (from Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa, Blind River and Elliot Lake) will seek “competitive compensation that reflects the unique challenges of northern practice and cost of living, investment in recruitment to reach safer staffing levels that ensure safe, sustainable, and equitable access to health care for all communities, and job protection,” the release adds.

ONA is the union representing 68,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as more than 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics, and industry.