MEDIA ADVISORY
September 16, 2021
St. John’s – Registered nurses, nurse practitioners and their supporters will hold information pickets across the province as part of a national day of action on September 17, just days before Canadians head to the polls in a federal election.
The day of action was called by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) and the Registered Nurses’ Union (RNU) Newfoundland and Labrador to highlight a growing crisis among the nation’s nursing workforce, including a critical shortage of registered nurses and unsafe working conditions.
In all, information pickets are expected to take place at 13 locations across Newfoundland and Labrador, including Brookfield, Carbonear, Corner Brook, Flower’s Cove, Gander, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Harbour Breton, Placentia, Stephenville, St. Anthony, St. John’s, St. Lawrence, and Twillingate. Event details are listed here: https://rnunl.ca/day-of-action-information-pickets/
RNU President Yvette Coffey will address participants outside the RNU Office in St. John’s at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Coffey will also be available for media interviews. Photos and videos from information pickets across the province will be shared with media.
What: National day of action highlighting the nursing crisis
Where: Registered Nurses’ Union Office, 229 Major’s Path, St. John’s. (Parking will be available for media behind RNU office. Please use the parking lot entrance located outside Ultragraphics Ltd.)
Date: Friday, September 17
Time: Information picket from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Remarks begin at 12:30 p.m.
Who: Registered nurses, nurse practitioners and supporters
Canada’s nurses will hold information pickets, mass phone-banking, and virtual rallies across the country to demonstrate their frustration and call for change. Event details are listed on the campaign website: https://www.frontlineunited.ca/events
CFNU President Linda Silas is also available for comment. Journalists who wish to arrange an interview with Silas may contact the CFNU
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For more information, please contact:
Karyn Whelan, RNU, kwhelan@rnunl.ca, 709-691-0889
Lauren Snowball, CFNU, lsnowball@nursesunions.ca, 613-868-5702