Workload concerns

At every turn we are hitting bedrock; the employer just digs their heels in and refuses to listen or acknowledge the concerns my nurses are bringing forward. 

They come up with all sorts of reasons to deflect our arguments, and requested data is only provided when it proves that nothing is wrong.

Every Hospital-Association Committee (HAC) meeting that we attend ends in tabling everything and circling back never. I have to give the employer credit for being able to use lots of big, corporate phrases that only succeed in saying nothing. I know this is because if the employer lets us get any wins in, then the word will get out that there is strength in numbers and that nurses are the ones that hold power through solidarity.

I’ve been in this role for almost three years. In this time, I’ve spoken to members one on one, provided in-services, complete with PowerPoint slides, sample Professional Responsibility Workload Forms and guidance via virtual meetings or phone. I even put out a quarterly newsletter to highlight different topics from the collective and Local agreements.

We have gained only small successes.

I know that reporting unsafe conditions is our College of Nurses of Ontario expectation, but my nurses are scared. It has been hard to keep up the member engagement when they are feeling dejected, demoralized and unheard.

Or worse, some don’t feel that they have a right to speak out.

The Professional Practice Team that was assigned to us from ONA’s provincial office has been a great resource and support. The conferences that I’ve been able to attend have given me some solid tools to bring back and use to do my job and support my team better.

But I’m not confident that even this support can overcome the obstacles that our employer has put up.

Little victories are no longer enough. My members and I need to see some significant and obvious results to renew our faith in the system.

Note: The comments expressed here do not necessarily represent the views and goals of ONA.