Executive Council
Health and Community Services
November 13, 2009
Good
Neighbour Agreement Reached With Unions
The Provincial Government
and the major public sector unions in the province have
signed a Good Neighbour Agreement that will
assist in addressing human resources issues in the event
of a major disruption or emergent situation related to
the current H1N1 pandemic. The Honourable Tom Marshall,
Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the
Public Service Secretariat, announced that the agreement
was signed today.
�I am delighted to see
our government and our public sector unions working
collaboratively to reach this agreement,� said Minister
Marshall. �It is important that as we respond to the
H1N1 pandemic, we ensure the health, safety and security
of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are
maintained.�
The implementation of the
Good Neighbour Agreement will assist employers in
any
required reassignment or rescheduling of staff to
respond to situations related to the
H1N1 pandemic. The agreement allows for employees to
work outside their bargaining unit, but not beyond their
scope of practice; employees who are ill and cannot
attend work will be compensated as per their collective
agreements; employees can be redeployed on a voluntary
basis or in accordance to collective agreements; time
limits for the submission and processing of grievances
will be waived; and employees will continue to be
covered for workers� compensation benefits.
�This agreement will
provide for a planned response to any emergency or
disruption without undue delays and restrictions,� said
the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, Minister of Health and
Community Services. �It will also further assist our
healthcare system as it continues to respond effectively
and efficiently during the pandemic.�
Discussions with the
Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses' Union, Newfoundland and
Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees,
Canadian Union of Public Employees, Newfoundland and
Labrador Teachers' Association, Association of Allied
Health Professionals and the Canadian Merchant Service
Guild have been ongoing since late September. As part of
the agreement, during the H1N1 pandemic, there will be a
one-time exemption for the requirement for a medical
note for one bout of influenza-like illness for a maximum of seven
days. The Good Neighbour Agreement will remain in effect
until the situation has improved sufficiently to allow
for a return to regular operations.
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Media contacts:
Ronalda Walsh
Director of Communications
Department of Finance
709-729-6830, 685-1741
ronaldawalsh@gov.nl.ca |
Tansy Mundon
Director of Communications
Department of Health and
Community Services
709-729-1377, 685-2646
tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
2009 11 13
9:25 a.m.
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