About two dozen VON Sarnia-Lambton employees are threatening to strike this weekend.
LiUNA Local 3000 Business Representative Ken Sharpe said contract talks have been unsuccessful and nurses plan to walk off the job as of 8 a.m. Saturday.
"The employer had made us an offer that we believe is not even close, in some respects it's actually inferior and would result in a clawback," said Sharpe. "No sick time for some of the nurses, no bereavement, 0.5 per cent lump sums, there's very little movement and it's time that nurses got the respect they deserve."
The 24 registered practical nurses (RPNs) have been without a contract since March 2019.
Sharpe said the employer was given over a week's notice of the May 1 strike deadline.
"The last thing any of us want is to see the clients go without care and to have the nurses off work," he said. "It's time that VON steps up and does the right thing and treats their employees like they are a valued employee. They tell us that all the time, it's time to prove it."
The VON said previously in a statement to Blackburn News that it is committed to the bargaining process and looks forward to a timely resolution of the matter.
Sharpe said what's needed to get the parties back to the table is a fair offer that acknowledges the nurses as healthcare heroes during the pandemic.
The union said picketers at the VON office on London Line will be limited to just a couple due to pandemic restrictions.
