N.L. nurses tentatively accept cost-conscious deal

The Newfoundland and Labrador government reached a contract agreement Mondaywith the province's nurses, 16 months after the last contract expired.

The three-year tentative deal, which requires ratification by members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union, is in line with the budget-minded contracts the provincial government has sought — and obtained — from other public-sector workers.

Talks between the province and the nurses have sometimes been contentious over the last few years. Negotiations broke off in July over money issues.

The deal, which is retroactive to July 1, 2005, includes no wage increase for the first year of the contract, and pay raises of three per cent for the second and third years.

"We were committed to certain basic principles that we've reached with other groups, particularly on the wage template and with the sick leave,"Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan told reporters.

Nurses' Union President Debbie Forward described the tentative agreementas a compromise. As a gain at the bargaining table, Forwardhighlightedincreases toshift differentials that will reward nurses who work evening, night and weekend shifts.

"The increase during a period of wage restraint is particularly satisfying," Forward said.

Some parts of deal won't come into effect until 2008

However, those differentials— the first increases in a decade— will not take effect until June 2008.

As well, the Nurses' Union hasagreed to cut in half the amount of sick leave for which newly hired nurses will be eligible. Effective Dec. 1, new hires will be eligible for one day of sick leave per month.

Premier Danny Williams said that term is in line with other public-sector negotiations.

The agreementwill also include a pilot project intended to make workplaces safer and healthier, and to cut down on employee absenteeism.

Forward said the pilot project is intended to make up for the loss of sick-leave allowances.

"Negotiations are about compromise, about a bit of give and take," Forward said.

The Nurses' Union represents about 5,000 nurses acrosssix collective agreements. Most of its members are covered by the agreement with the provincial government.

Members will be briefed Tuesday as the NLNU opens its annual convention.

A ratification vote is expected by Christmas, Forward said.