The Union of Northern Workers met with nurses Wednesday evening to address allegations of poor working conditions revealed earlier this month in a strongly worded letter to the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 Health and Social Services Authority.

Several members requested the meeting to discuss workplace concerns, said Frank Walsh, union local 11 president. All union members were welcome to attend but reporters were barred from the event.

SA国际影视传媒淨uite frankly, it was one of the longest union meetings I've ever attended,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淎 lot of people vented.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭o get into what they were venting about would be to get into the concerns (in the letter),SA国际影视传媒� he continued.

The letter, dated May 2019 and signed by the SA国际影视传媒淣urses of Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� described a shortage of nurses at Stanton.

SA国际影视传媒淪taffing is a huge concern at Stanton Hospital,SA国际影视传媒� it stated.

The letter also describes a SA国际影视传媒渄aily struggleSA国际影视传媒� to find nurses and beds that is putting patients at risk and has hurt the quality of care at the hospital.

Some nurses forced to work overtime, SA国际影视传媒渁fter working a full shift as there (was) no one to care for the patient,SA国际影视传媒� reads the letter.

It also said surgical operations are routinely canceled due to staff shortages.

The letter was written in regards to the old Stanton, but predicted the problems would persist in the new building.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's been a longtime struggle for Stanton to retain and recruit nurses,SA国际影视传媒� said Walsh. SA国际影视传媒淚t's nothing that's really, really new.SA国际影视传媒�

In response to the letter, Sue Cullen, CEO of the Northwest Territories Health and Services Authority, listed efforts to retain and hire more staff.

SA国际影视传媒淲e have challenges when recruiting for skilled health and social services positions; this is especially true in nursing,SA国际影视传媒� she stated in an email. SA国际影视传媒淎cross Canada nurses and health professionals are in high demand, we are not exempt from this pressure.SA国际影视传媒�

All Local 11 members SA国际影视传媒� including those who didnSA国际影视传媒檛 sign the letter SA国际影视传媒� were invited to WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 meeting to discuss next steps.

Walsh said Local 11 wanted SA国际影视传媒渁 better workplace, better working conditions and a hope to see some results.SA国际影视传媒�

He hopes to return to joint consultation between union local and employer representatives, which stalled in the wake of the transition to the new building, and the recent conclusion of collective bargaining.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to re-engage both the employer and the union,SA国际影视传媒� he said, explaining that Wednesday's meeting produced stronger insight into work conditions.

Beyond the Cullen's letter, Walsh said there has been no face-to-face dialogue with the employer, which he said would be the first step.

SA国际影视传媒淭he employer runs the workplace, but we work in the workplace. We are the front lines. We live it 24/7 and the employer could probably take some value from its employees in trying to resolve some of these issues.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e're nurses, we're x-ray techs, we're lab techs, we're all professionals,SA国际影视传媒� he said.