N.L. health professionals' union breaks off talks with province, isn't ruling out strike

Newfoundland and Labrador's Association of Allied Health Professionals says it's moving away from conciliation efforts with the provincial government and focusing efforts into mobilizing for potential job action.

The union, which represents more than 800 health professionals — including physiotherapists, pharmacists and psychologists — walked away from collective bargaining talks in October.

On Wednesday, AAHP president Gordon Piercey said the union has decided it's time to focus their energy on mobilizing members.

"We are so far apart. Like, really far apart right now. To the point where we just saw nothing productive in pursuing or continuing what we were doing," he said. "There's still a long way to go."

Piercey said the main issue that broke down talks revolves around how workers are classified and paid through the province's job evaluation system. He says there are large gaps between some of his members and other health-care workers doing similar work — with some being paid as much as $20,000 less.

"We have significant pay disparities, and they've been years in the process.… It's just unacceptable to this group," Piercey said.

"Recruitment and retention is imperative at this point. We are worried that there's going to be not much left if we let this go through another contract phase."

The union is finalizing an essential service agreement before it can take a strike vote, Piercey said, and members are eager to have that vote.

"Our members are asking, 'When are we taking a strike vote?'… That tells you how motivated they are."

WATCH I Health professionals' association says members aren't being paid what they're worth:

Talks break off between N.L. government and group that represents pharmacists, psychologists and other health professionals

12 months ago

Duration 1:00

Gord Piercey, president of the Association of Allied Health Professionals of Newfoundland and Labrador, says the group’s members want fair pay and respect. Respiratory therapists, social workers and kinesiologists — who are just some of the disciplines within the group — are key parts of the health-care system but aren’t being treated like they are, he says.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday shortly after the AAHP issued a press release, Finance Minister and Treasury Board president Siobhan Coady said the government has offered a fair deal that is consistent with ratified agreements offered to other public sector unions.

"Our proposal to AAHP offers generous wage adjustments, factoring adjustments for competitiveness, long service similar or same as those negotiated as other union and employees," Coady said.

Coady says the government has offered the union a process to change some job classifications and has asked Labour Minister Bernard Davis for mediation in an effort to avoid a strike.

"We're going to do everything we can to not have that happen."

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