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More than 1,000 health care workers who are members of the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees’ (PEI UPSE/NUPGE) have a new collective agreement. Arbitrator Thomas Kuttner brought forward the arbitration award earlier this week.
Charlottetown (21 Oct. 2010) - PEI UPSE's one thousand plus members working for the provincial government’s Department of Health and Wellness have a renewed collective agreement extending retroactively from April 2009 until March 31, 2012.
Negotiations between PEI UPSE and the Department of Health and Wellness began in April 2009 and moved to conciliation in March 2010 after bargaining teams were unable to reach an agreement. Conciliation failed to bring the parties together and monetary issues were a key stumbling block. As a result, PEI UPSE and the Department of Health and Wellness moved to binding interest arbitration on September 21, 22 and October 1, 2010.
Arbitrator, Thomas Kuttner, brought forward the arbitration award on October 19, 2010 awarding PEI UPSE Department of Health and Wellness members with a 6% raise: April 1, 2009 (2%), Oct. 1, 2009 (2%), Oct. 1, 2010 (1%) and Oct. 1, 2011 (1%).
On top of the general economic increase of 6% for all PEI UPSE Department of Health and Wellness members, a shift premium was awarded of $0.25, as well as wage adjustments for Licensed Practical Nurses (8%), Psychologists ($6.00), Speech Language Pathologists, Audiologists, Social Workers and Dietician/Nutritionists (2%) to bring them into balance with their Atlantic counterparts.
Shelley Ward, President of PEI UPSE says "the negotiating team for our health members deserves congratulations for their hard work and dedication during the negotiating process. By working together we have secured a fair agreement for our members who provide vital health services to the people of Prince Edward Island every day."
She explained that "packages detailing the award have been sent to all PEI UPSE health members and the union will be embarking on a road show across the province to explain the new wages and benefits."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE