September 03 2002
The Treasury Board has ratified the Government Nurses' Agreement. The official effective date of the Agreement is August 8th for those changes which do not have specific implementation dates attached to them. Riverview Hospital is aiming at getting the new pay out on September 20th, and FPH may be one pay period earlier. The other workplaces are in the same ball park. The retroactive pay will take a bit longer. Arbitrators have ruled that 90 days is a reasonable time.
As reported in the last Bulletin, the Labour Relations Board has ruled that for the purposes of Bill 29 (layoffs bumping) the employer is the Health Authority and not the local employers. The Board recognized this was impractical in most cases and gave the parties until July 31st to come up with appropriate seniority lists. They were not able to and it is back in the hands of the Board.
Maple Cottage Detox was transferred to the Health Sector in April, but the employees remained in the Public Service and were seconded. The Employer issued letters to the employees last week advising them that their positions will be transferred to the health sector on October 1st. Employees have the option of transferring, or remaining in the Public Service. UPN will sign a residual rights agreement with PSERC later this month.
After a very brief flurry, the McCallum report on Woodlands appears to have become yesterday's news. McCallum has recommended a Phase 2 in which Woodlands records would be turned over to parties who may want to sue the Government. UPN is taking the position that personnel records must not be turned over to special interest groups looking for publicity or money.
UPN is sponsoring the attendance of interested members in a number of labour workshops in October. Interested members should contact their Local President.
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