NLIS 5
August 21, 2006
(Executive Council)
(Health and Community Services)

Agreement reached between government and

Association of Allied Health Professionals

Loyola Sullivan, Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board, and Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, are pleased to announce that a new three-year collective agreement has been signed today with the Association of Allied Health Professionals (AAHP).

Government negotiators and AAHP commenced talks in March and agreed to terms earlier this summer.  Both sides are pleased to be moving forward with an agreement, which expires in 2008.

"It�s always a good day when negotiations are successful in reaching a deal that is beneficial to both sides,� said Minister Sullivan.

�Allied health professional are very valuable to our health care system,� said Minister Osborne. �The services our allied health professionals offer are often the ones which can make the most difference to a patients� recovery.  I am pleased they have reached a successful conclusion to negotiations.�

Terms of the agreement are in line with agreements reached with teachers, physicians and other groups in the province and include a wage freeze for two years, with a three per cent raise in each of the remaining two years, and a reduced sick-leave package for new employees.

AAHP represents a number of health care professionals from various disciplines working within the hospitals, nursing homes and other health agencies within the province including social workers, clinical dieticians, occupational therapists, etc.

Photo #1: From left: AAHP Executive Director Sharon King, AAHP President Ken Bulger, Finance Minister Loyola Sullivan, and Director of Collective Bargaining for the Newfoundland and Labrador Health Boards Assocation, Elizabeth Alyward sign the collective agreement today.

Media contact:

Deborah Pennell, Communications, Public Service Secretariat, (709) 729-6830, 685-6612

Tansy Mundon, Communications, Health and Community Services, (709) 729-1377, 685-1741

2006 08 21                                                        11:00 a.m.