The Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) and Norfolk County reached a tentative agreement late last night that may end the 12-day-old Public Health Nurses' strike in Haldimand-Norfolk.

ONA members will be meeting this afternoon to vote on the tentative agreement. The nurses could be back on the job as early as tomorrow. ONA is recommending acceptance of the deal.

"As President of ONA and a resident of this community, I am very pleased that we have a tentative agreement," said ONA President Linda Haslam-Stroud, RN. "This employer's actions have, unfortunately forced our nurses and community into enduring the first strike by ONA nurses in more than a decade in this province. I know our nurses are looking forward to continuing to provide excellent care for their clients."

The deal was reached very early this morning with the assistance of a mediator appointed by the Ministry of Labour. Details are confidential until ratification.

"I'm hopeful that our members will be back very soon, doing what they care most about - promoting health and preventing disease in Haldimand-Norfolk County," said Haslam-Stroud. "I want to again thank everyone in this community who showed such overwhelming support and respect for our nurses. Seniors, coworkers, friends, neighbours, the community and numerous other union members and retired workers took the time to express their support. It has truly been heartwarming and kept our spirits up."

ONA is the union representing 59,000 front-line RNs and allied health professionals and more than 13,000 nursing student affiliates providing care in Ontario communities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, industry and clinics.

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