News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  

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:

  • The objective of the review will be to modernize the current classification system and ensure that it reflects the changing nature of the professions involved, their complexity and technological change.
  • This process will not be a "back door" route to reopen or alter existing collective agreements. Existing collective agreements will remain in place, and major issues for the collective bargaining process shall continue to be dealt with through the normal process of government-union negotiations.
  • This process will be undertaken within government�s existing fiscal framework and fiscal capacity.
  • The new system is not intended to provide any raises or changes to existing salary scales but rather will determine whether these groups are properly placed within pay scales.

"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
David Wells, Communications, Treasury Board, (709) 729-6830
Carl Cooper, Communications, Health & Community Services, (709) 729-1377.

2000 02 18                                                     11:30 a.m.


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement