February 18, 2000 (Executive Council) Government announces classification study for major groups Premier Brian Tobin, Treasury Board President Anna Thistle, and Health and Community Services Minister Roger Grimes announced today that government will commence a classification review of the nursing occupation, including the licenced practical nurse classification, and the social worker classification. The purpose of the review is to ensure current classifications properly reflect the complexity of the work employees perform. This reflects the changing nature of many health care related professions which is evident by classification reviews already underway for such classes as physiotherapists, pharmacists and dieticians represented by the Allied Association of Health Professionals. Government is also announcing today that it intends to introduce a new classification system for bargaining unit employees covered by the existing classification system. This will be discussed with the unions within the next week or two. "Government�s current classification system is over 30 years old and does not fully respond to the needs of government or its employees. We are announcing today that government will move to address this problem," the premier said. "Most other provinces are already in the process of replacing or modifying their classification plans for bargaining unit employees," said Minister Thistle. "The implementation of an entire new system is a major initiative and government intends to be fair to all of its employees and fairness will be the major principle which guides our efforts to modernize the classification system." The premier noted that there are several principles which will guide the classification review process for the groups involved:
"Government has heard the concerns of nurses, licenced practical nurses, social workers and the health care boards," Minister Grimes noted, "and many of their concerns are related to their classification level. The review will commence as soon as possible and will involve input from the nurses, licenced practical nurses and social workers." It is estimated that the review process for health groups will be completed this summer. Full implementation of broader reforms to the government classification system will take several years to complete. On a separate issue, government is prepared to give consideration to concerns social workers have raised as to workload. More specifically, we are prepared to establish a committee of government officials and representatives of the social workers to review this matter. Media contact: Heidi Bonnell, Office of the Premier, (709)
729-3564 2000 02 18 11:30 a.m. |
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