Presidents Message

Welcome to the new PEINU website!

It has been a year now since I assumed the Presidents’ role and I thank everyone for their ongoing support. As your President,my focus will continue to be on the promotion of issues that affect the work-lives of Nurses across the Island. Nurses are being asked to work more overtime than ever before. They are feeling the pressure to work above their present guarantees, to support t heir colleagues and the health system. Nurses are finding it difficult to get time off, regardless of the reason for needing this. Nurses are trying to find a balance between work-life and family. Nursing shortages and the current health care system are making this very difficult.

The current collective agreement has expired March 30/08. The negotiation team is now meeting with government representatives to work on a new contract. Priorities were set by the committee by analysing the information provided by the membership.   As your President, I continue to watch for opportunities to advance our concerns and issues.  Part of my role is to ensure that these concerns/issues are recognized by the public, the employer and government.  Sometimes we may not realize that the challenges that we are facing, are common across the Island.

The new website is easy to navigate and provides a variety of information specific to PEINU, and as well links to other provincial/ national unions and health organizations. We now have a “members only” section that allows for us to provide more sensitive information for PEINU members. You will also find on the website, a new calendar area. This can be used by our members as a central information window that will identify educational opportunities and workshops across the Island. We hope that the Clinical Educators and/ or workshop co-ordinators will add us to their mailing list so that we can keep the calendar updated. You will also find the dates of provincial board meetings and other activities of the President and Executive Director here.

I am hoping that by increasing the visibility of the Union, more members will develop an interest and decide to become involved. There are many opportunities available by making this choice.  Although the President is viewed as the Leader of the Union, having active members that help provide direction is the key to strengthening our Union. We all have a part to play if we wish to work in an environment that is supportive and promotes the advancement of the Nursing profession.

Thanks for your ongoing support.
Barbara Brookins

- updated May 5, 2008