AAHP ratifies new contract with province
More than 800 health-care workers in Newfoundland and Labrador are getting a $2,000 signing bonus and an eight per cent raise over the next four years after an Association of Allied Health Professionals (AAHP) contract ratification vote.
On Monday, Feb. 26, both the provincial government and the AAHP issued news releases about the new agreement.
The contract also includes wage recognition to ensure occupation competitiveness and compensation upgrades aimed at retaining full-time employees.
The new deal features paid family violence leave and improvements to travel provisions — offering increased meal allowances and reimbursements for vehicle usage — and gives employees the flexibility to observe non-christian faith-based holidays by substituting statutory holidays.
“This contract is a first step in the right direction for allied health professionals and the stabilization of the health-care system – meaning that there is more work to be done. However, we are optimistic that this new contract will put us on the path to a much stronger future,” said union president Gord Piercey.
One of the AAHP’S big concerns in negotiations was around pay equity with the government’s job evaluation system (JES).
The union said its membership has been determined to see issues around the JES addressed since negotiations began.
The union said the government committed in this new agreement to working with the AAHP to develop and implement a new, permanent health professionals pay grid, with a target to have that completed one year from the date of signing the contract.
“While this agreement sees significant movement in wages, and some positive changes to workload and standards of practice, we recognize that it will not immediately solve all the current issues facing our membership. This is why we are calling it a purposeful first step,” Piercey said.
More than 88 per cent of union members voted to accept the agreement, he said.
In mid-january the union walked away from conciliation talks with the government. At that time, many members told Saltwire they would vote yes to a strike vote.