Community Care Access Centre workers will be back on the job and off the picket lines this week.
Talks resumed on Feb. 14 between the CCACs and the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) with a mediator from the Ministry of Labour, to resolve the strike and get ONA-represented employees in nine CCACs across the province back to work.
The CCACs and ONA reached an agreement to participate in interest arbitration to settle the outstanding issue regarding wages.
In the meantime, ONA-represented employees will returned to their workplaces on Feb. 17.
“We are very pleased that we will be able to resume our full range of care to patients,” said Megan Allen-Lamb, provincial CCAC spokesperson.
“We thank our patients, and health care partners in the home, community, long-term care and hospital sectors for their patience and support through this time. We look forward to having our employees return to CCACs to resume their important work in providing care to patients.”
The agreement will bring a finish to the 16 days of labour disruption that was affecting nine of Ontario’s 14 CCACs.
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Dr. Eric Hoskins issued the following statement on the labour situation between Community Care Access
Centres (CCACs) and the Ontario Nurses’ Association:
“I am pleased that striking health care providers represented by the Ontario Nurses’ Association will return to work on Tuesday.
“Both parties involved in the labour negotiations have agreed to arbitration. This is excellent News for more than 650,000 people,including seniors, who receive care through our Community Care Access Centres and community agencies.
“We are committed to improving the experience of patients and their families and ensuring access to high-quality home and community care right across the province. We value the hard work of thousands of dedicated nurses and health-care professionals who provide such excellent care to those individuals.
“A strong system depends on these dedicated professionals and the valuable contribution theymake to the health and well-being of the most vulnerable people in the province. They are essential to continuing the transformation of home and community care in Ontario. We cannot do this without them.
“It is my hope that a resolution can be quickly reached to ensure that people can continue to access the quality home and community services they need now and in the future.”
