Dispatches September 1997

SEPTEMBER 15, 1997

HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION

Dis . p a . l e hes ··~ SASKATCHEWAN

Health Sciences is in the process of scheduling meetings with HSAS members in all of the Health Districts in Saskatchewan. Our goal is to meet with as many individuals as possible and solicit input from the various professional groups about current issues, future concerns and bargaining priorities.

We are also scheduling meetings with Human Resources staff in each District following the membership meetings.

At the membership meetings we

will be discussing matters raised by members and other issues such as 'postings' 'reclassifications' 'seniority' 'benefits', 'union structure' and 'union representation'.

In preparation for provincial bargaining and to learn more about the concerns of our members we are endosing a "Practitioner Unit Survey".

We · are asking everyone to fill out and return the survey in the self-addressed envelope provided.You will have an opportunity to discuss this survey at our

upcoming District meetings.

Separate meeting Notices are being provided only to those Districts that have meetings scheduled in September .

For all other meetings refer to this issue and the next issue of DISPATCHES for date. time and location.

You are welcome to attend any meeting that is convenient for you .

PLAN TO PARTICIPATE!

•

..• •

IL

.•

---- - -=-=-.:=-=--= --.:·..:=--=-·:.:~ - ---=·- -- -----= ·---:.

----=-==--:: PRAIRIE WEST DISTRICT Kindersley Hospital Board Room Tuesday September 16, 7:00pm

MAMAWETAN I MUNffO USKIY DIST. LaRonge (Siteto be announced) Thurs. Oct. 23, 6:00pm ~,

TOUCHWOODQU'APPEilE DISTRICT Week of November17 (Dateard Location to be Announcmin the next DISPATCHES)

...."':"' 1

MID-WEST DISTRICT Rosetown Hospital Board Room Wednesday September 17, 7:00pm

GABRIEL SPRINGS DISTRICT Rosthem Hospital Resource Room Tues. Oct . 28, 7:00pm

SWIFTCURRENTD5TRICT Weekof November24(Dateard Location to be Announcmin the next DISPATCHES)

GREENHEAD DISTRICT Unity Hospital Board Room Tuesday September 23, 7:00pm

PRINCEALBERTD5TRICT Herb Bassett Home Meeting Room Wed. Oct.29, 7:00pm

ROLLING HILLS DISTRICT Week of November24 (Dateard Location to be Announce:tin the next DISPATCHES)

NORTH CENTRAL DISTRICT Melfort Hospital Boardroom Tues. Nov. 4, 7:00pm

SOUTH-WEST DISTRICT Week of November24 (Dateard Location to be Announcmin the next DISPATCHES)

NORTH-EAST DISTRICT Nipawin Hospital Multi-purpose Room Wed. Nov. 5, 7:00pm

SOUTH-COUNTRY DISTRICT Weekof November24 (Dateard Location to be Announcroin the next DISPATCHES)

PASQUIA DIS1RICT Wermac Mall, Meeting Room 904 101st Ave Tisdale Thursday November 6, 7:00pm

PIPESTONE DISTRICT Weekof December1 (Dateard Locationto beAnnouncroin the next DISPATCHES)

~v:JI-,-, _';~1"11...JI ;.

BA TTLEFORDS DISTRICT Don Ross Center, Room 11O 891-99th St., North Battleford Wednesday September 24, 7:00pm SASKA TOON DISTRICT Royal University Hospital Mall Lecture Theatre Thurs.

Sept 25, 7:00pm _, or St. Pauls Hospital Auditorium Tues. Sept. 30 7:00pm LLOYDMINSTER DISTRICT Uoydminster Hosp. Conference Rm# 1 Wed. Oct 1, 7:00pm ~c c

TWIN RIVERS DISTRICT MaidstoneHospitalBasement Boardroom Thurs. Oct. 2, 7:00pm -T

• } to--

. _l+ .

-

~

I-

l

'

,...._.> \T L

1

..-

,,

- ...' ~ ~

• 'i".

•

I

NORTHWEST DISTRICT Meadow Lake Hospital Boardroom Tuesday Oct. 7, 7:00pm REGINA HEAL TH DIS1RICT Wascana Rehab. Centre Auditorium Thurs. Oct 9, 7:00pm or Regina General HospitalAuditorium Wed. Oct. 15, 7:00pm

CENTRAL PLAINS DISTRICT St. ElizabethHospital,Humboldt Basement Clas.5100m Wed. Nov. 12, 7:00pm ASSINIBOINE VALLEY DISTRICT Canara Hospital Boardroom Wed. Nov.12, 7:00pm LMNG SKY DISTRICT a Lanigan Hospital Boardroom Thurs. Nov. 13, 7:00pm EAST-CENTRAL DISTRICT YorklonRegionalHealthCentreBoardroom

1lus. Nov. 1~ 7:(Xpn NORTH VALLEY DISTRICT St. Peters Hospital, Mellville 1st floor Conference Room

Mn No.t.17,7:tX.pn

n

••

4

I

-

MOOSE-MOUNTAIN DISTRICT Weekof December1 (Dateard Locationto be Announcroin the next DISPATCHES) SOUTH-EAST DISTRICT Week of December1 (Dateard Locationto beAnnouncroin the next DISPATCHES) ""

SOUTH-CENTRAL DISTRICT Weekof December8 (Dateard Locationto be Announcroin the next DISPATCHES) MOOSE·JAW!fHUNDERCREEK 'DISTRICT Week of Decl:rnber8 (Dateard Locationto be Announcroin the next DISPATCHES)

l

...

•,.f,

"i.

.•

.'

..

E

ES

LABOUR RELATIONS 1..BOJ.\RD.MATTERS: The SGEU Long-term Disabil~Jy,Plan A Labour Relations Board hearing

1l1e LRB also heard submissions from SAHO and all the affected Unions on transferof long-tenn disabilitycoveragefor the tJie issue of "premiums". Presenlly the SGEU members transferred into tJ1e new premiumsunder the General SAHO Plan ror bargaining units: Providers, Nurses and HSAS members are shared equally by llie Practitioners. employer and employees witil employees At tlte hearing SGEU agroo:l to contributing .44% of gross regular monthly make September28, 1997 tJ1eeCfectivedate of earnings througha payrolldeduction.CUPE, tennination for SGEU coverage of SEIU, and SUN have higher premiwn Pla11s PlqClitionersunder its self-administeredplan. with SAHO. 111is means tJiat all Practitioner Unit As an interim solution tmtil ·new Employees will be transferred to U1cSAI-10 Provincial Agreements are negotiatoo, GeneralDisabilityIncomePlan. 11lisdate was SAHO has agreed to transferall U1ealfecled moved up from July 31, 1997 in order to to SGEU members(whetherProviders,Nurses, give SAHO and the Health DistrictEmployers or Practitioners)to U1eSAHO General Plan. time lo implemeotthen~ changes. w- Unfortwmtely,for Practitioners,they me also

washeld on August 26, 1997 concerning the

f'L'•

insisting UmttJie SGEU employeescontribute tllcfull premitmt of .88%! (Under the SGEU Plan members have been paying tJic full premiumof l .251Yo).

HSAS submitted to the Board that ... the "premiums" for tJie SGEU Practitioners lrnnsfcrringinto the SABO Plan slumld be the "1• y same as tl,ey arefor all otl,er PractiJumers;,, tlud. Pfau, (Le. .44% of gross regular eami11g.y.

In our view it is discriminatory for former SGEU members to pay double tJ1e premimn for Ute same benefit. We await tlie Board'swrittendecisionon tJ1ismatter.

•

~~ I ~-~"·~-i:J\..~ -. At.~:~ -_ ~ ~·t;;:\ p.·_ ii~r;-_~Nrs :i.J ,'N,'_ ,...,, ".,··'1!.

I. -pp:;~;if.• a l.l T•~ • ~l--:~----f• _. C. . ~ •• ,.... . li. ,iJ /::\ _.R.J ~ ~~ ,q_ . ,._..·1 ,~ ,~_ "0· ,_ !:.o.

I· ~)..., ~ ' , .:-» ( · ·.,.1;5•i.a_:'!r,-·..._ ·• a ~

p>

•

.:..J~·_,

...... ,... ~ .-. ./:

·-

..{.

~a:~.-..

Many employeesmight be surprised to hear Umt though a number of wtions representing them make contributionsto the SAHO pension plan, the plan itself is solely ·-...,,. r,. and exclusivelyadministeredby SAHO. During U1eir 1996 provincial t·-·l negotiations wiU1SAHO U1c Saskatchewan • Utlion of Nurses (SUN) proposed Umt the l...

SAHO Pension Plan be declared "multi'u;.._ employer".

111eobviousadvantageto this sort of alternativeis tltal tmions wouJd jointly share wi9_1 the employer how tJ1e plan was adlni.nistered.

SUN realized Uiat if they were to succeedin this endeavor tJ1eywould need the

f ·J: ..

~

~

II-' .

•

---•.

support and consent of all the other unions.

While HSAS was prepared to agree in principle wiU1 tJ1e SUN proposat SElU decided to withhold its support-and Uiis effectivelyput Uteissueon Uieback-burner.

In the meantime we have learned lliat SAHO Plan has accwnulateda smplus in tJ1eneighborhoodof 100milliondollars!

As an 'employeradministered'plan there is, of cow-re,no 'legal' obligation for SABO to negotiatewith the w1ionshow the stuplus willbeused. However? all healtl1-c1re unions are of tl1e opinion that there stj11 remains a moral obHgationfor SAHO to discusstJieissuewith all affectedpa11ics. ......._..,._ RaU1er unfortunately~SUN has

suggested in cortcspondence to SAHO llmt only representativesfrom SEIU CUPE and SUN be pa.rticipm1ts in discussionswiU1SAHO regarding the issue of U1eswplus-eCfeclively excludingHSAS. We have,of comsc,110 i11te11tio11 of stepping asit/e while SAHO and three otJ1er tmions discuss hmv they \\ill deal with the pension plan su1plus that contributions from HSAS membershelpedto create!

In our latest correspondence lo SAHOwe have made it clear Uial a fair and CTtllitablc process requires tl1e l)<'Uticipalion of all tmions whose members contribute lo l11e benefitplan.

Dependantcoverage.

In addition tJ1c Group Life Insurance Plan bas been amended effective August 1997 to provide tJmt plan members who acquirea spouseor dependentchild may apply in tl1e montl1 of Janumy of Ille followingyear for a maximtm1of $70,000.00 in Optional lnsurnnce coverage without a

medical. lf the plru1 member applies for $70,000.00 optional insurance ex~ing (maxinnuu $250,000.()())medicalinformation must be submittedto Uteinsmance carrier and • covcrngeis su~joctto tJ1ecarrier'sapproval.

HSAS has rcx:iuestcd tlml the i.ncrc.asc in premiumsand 0U1eramendments be placed in abeyancetmtiJncgolialoo.

·•

J

:"t

All HealtJ1Care Unions have been infonned tJmt effective August 1, 1997 tile premium rate for Basic Group Life lnsunmce coveragewill be increasingfrom 15 cents to 18 cents per $1000.CX.) coverageper month. The premium rate will remain unchanged for Ute following:Optional Life lnsura.nce,Voltmtmy, Accidental Death, Dismembennent and

f

....

:- - - - - - - - - - "'!~ -~~--' J~-JC."Jl:::C.Ill=c..__.

• 8=-::Jl=cCll::-cJl=c.-L-.r

r ...

.::

•::::a: - - -

: ILll:=Jl_8:::::a__11 _LII _ILC•

:t..J

Practitioner lnjim11ation Report argumentsto add new occupationalgroupsto decisionmakingprocess.l11ereare someve d New Ai/emberF'cmnsare being sent to the PractitionerUnit. ""' definiteadvantageslo signi..nga membership! ''Ch Healtl1District and Affiliateemployer, BENEFIT OF JJSAS MEMJJE&\'JJJP a card. These advantagesinclude: Included in the fonns is an d all practitionerswill be asked to complete ne of these fonns. 1110seof you who were Applicationfor Membership in HSAS. We * the right to ho/ti exec11tive office mployedprior to July 22/97 will be asked to are asking all practitioners who are not * the right to 'speak 011t'on issues of importa,ice to you or your ~nrnplete U1e Practitioner l1?fim11atio11membersof HSASto fill oul the membership prof essio11algroup '?eport; new employees hired a/ier Ju)y forms.

For the renefit of there inc.lividuals * tlte right to vote (e.g. to ratify the 2/97 will be asked to complete the New Collective Agreement) 1emberFom1. who were lransferroofrom m10U1er w1ionor 1l1e completedforms will give us were not in any union (out-of-scope),HSAS * tlte right to attem/ annual co11ve11tio11s and other union n updateon our originalmembers,help us to has a duty under U1eTrade Union Act to meetings :eneratea current mailing list, and provideus fairly represent its members whet.heror not "th infommtionalxxltindividuals\-\ehavenot theysign tmioncards.We stand finnly on the * the right to atteml HSAS sponsere,I educationals 1reviously reprerentedIt can also serve as :1 principlethat each individualmust have the asis for our new. "griev~mce" database. freedomto choosewheU1erthey wish to join * a voice i11,/eve/oping union policy * access to unio11 information from An up-to-date and accurate data- tJ1eunion Uiatrepresentsthem. other HSA 11nions in other provinces will assist our bargaining team in However,we also believetliat if we .egotiatingprovincial, local or occupational are to be ru1elfective union our members * access to non-repayable emergency lint/ educational grants ~emis and conditions and to support need to be meaningfully involved in the ~ •;I=ilIJl ~II::W_•:::.-.11 • • • • • CI'.JUI

• • • • • • • •I:C•I• -· --~~~~-~;m. ~-.-_. _.::::.._.-_ca_-.._J[_LC• -

-

_._

•

-

· •

•

-

-

•

I

'll :......

•,

.,_

-

.·,

• ., J

,· .

.

'!

'L~ . '1'

__

_EX.sCUJIYE

COU,NCIL

THE ~PRb rVINGJAl / G_o ·&.E;RNING ~~, B! lO .Y O._ F~-H:S_A~S The HSAS Executive Council is the governing body that establishes policies and conducts the business of the Association between Annual Conventions.

Council members function as information conduits who listen to, and take note of the concerns and issues raised by co-workers.

They report on these issues to HSAS staff or directly to the Executive Council.

Health Sciences is now responsible for bargaining on behalf of approximately 1800 individuals who are divided into 30 (28 active) professional groups working out of dozens of communities and facilities situated across the length and breadth of the Province.

One of the pivotal first issues we have had to grapple with was how our

occupationally diverse, geographically dispersed membership could best be represented on Executive Council .

Our Constitution and By-laws already gives us some flexibility to designate individuals to represent an appropriate professional, occupational or composite group . Accordingly, it was decided to simply follow the procedure outlined in our present Constitution and create or assign Executive Council seats for those occupations and composite occupational groups that are new to HSAS .

At its August 21 meeting Executive Council approved an interim Council which will continue at least until the Constitutional Conference (scheduled '"ror

Spring 1998) confirms or amends the interim governing structure.

As of November 22, 1997 nine new seats will be created and one of the existing Council seats (Wascana HomeCare CAS) will be eliminated . The new (interim) Executive Council will be comprised of 17 Council seats. It was determined by Council that occupational or composite groups with more than 150 persons would have 2 seats on Council.

When all is said and done we will be electing 14 seats out of a total 17 at the Annual Convention! The Chart below sets out the existing and interim Executive Council structure . Nomination Fonns to fill the vacant positions are induded in this mailing of Dispatches.

...

2

Social Worker

2

Assessor Coordinator I

'~~

... ·-· :"'

[Wascana Homecare/ Client Assessment Services]

·~tt '

~~ 1 Bill Feldbruegge* Speech Language Pathologist I,~.

I Audiologist ,...-.. ..........:.,,, ..... ......._., Orthoptist ... ..... ' ,. ..~ .... .. ·~ ,_· > .• .........! :~ : •• . ..

1·· • • Music Therapist 1- -")r - . • i "· • -~ 'I[

-·~ ,.( .....~

...

....

I

...... <2 •• ~~

;

. r

[Nov. 1997) ... ,-

.. _..;..._.... r. •....

•.

...

..

~

.

.

~

......

'•

I

~I

..,_. •

"'...... i ~1-r, ........ ,

~ ~~w .•. • ~~~ f..~ ·u tl,,~

.

';;]

,..;;,

~ 1-, -'Ill ,

1 Solange Lamont**[Nov . 1998)

·~.

\... ~,

!"",

t•,

r·

:~

-

•

• 'Jl,ir•

. -

J

J

.,

1 ~,...·l·~ _ \ :\Ja. ~ ·•1 . .

~';-,,•·f"'-'d !I

Dietitian Nutrit ionist Dental Hygienist and Therapist Health Educator

Occupational

--.;;

•••

EMT and Paramedic It

.,..

~

1 (Vacant)

I

~

I

r.

...

•. I;" ,_r ~ -· -.. ,. ~ .........,..

- .. .-~ ' '. ... .... .

~

Respiratory Therapist Perfusionist

- i

~

,

~

., 1;.;.--

....

~

--.'~...-~ .•.. . . " ..........-

1 Natalie Horejda*[Nov . 1997) (Seat will be eliminated)

~.

l

. '} ..,,

Therapist

,\.

-

.,'l'

r

f

.

..

2

'•

1

. - ....L t

~

lnfe~tloH ealth lnsoector Public

I

.'

-~ • r

:_.-.~ _.._J. .. - .. ...

tToner

. n Control Prac I

•

;,

'

.....

• ,i

0

·· .. al/· l'31_ -

1

8

.i. I~

="'';.,,~·~-~ ·;. - :. "'"":r Marylou Guenther**[Nov.199

1

,c .... 1{ . 1

Psychologist Psychometrician

,,.

w

.....

•

1 Solmaz Niyazi*[Nov.

Pharmacist

••

1~- y·

1997)

..

-· I

~

0

17' .

TOTArl§ -:!-!» ·~~ -

~

2

Phys ical Therapist Prosthetist and Orthotist Exercise/Conditioning Therapist

..-·

;.:.-i.

* CurrentTerm of office expires Nov~ 22, 1997 ** CurrentTerm of office expires Nov. 1998 Professional groups underlined are those groups that have not previously been represented by HSAS

ft~.~~

.;~ ...~-·~[: ~~ ,.~rrm~~-· ,... ~:.:.. ~ ..... ·.~~~·-.:. ·,_..;'·t·~~11~f1.;-..r-~-f~r

:

•:

,(,

- ,, a

~, . •'Jt• 111.

•

,,,,.

~

-

•

r..;......."'~ ~ i: ,·.-.:,._t ........ : ...:.~....'ii111'"~ ~' ,._" - v.:lr ~ .,~. ,..-•'n ~i:..; I ~:..., 1.~'il ~...'

·r

••

II

•

r

..

••... • •

~'

• ......

1

'I'

~

"'

-

II

-

•

-~~- ....

111'

,r•"

~

,.._.... ". " I

··r

llll'•....-1

I.Ir

-

--

.. Ill....

l ..

:L:.__..

~;_~?r~ ,,.L.!i",G,'"

,t,-

,_.,~~l. ~ ,.r- 4 r

~

I

L..I .............-, •

.:.;..rr~ -· ~~~ :.-.•- •

'11'1

••

1

ll;;

~l

I

I

.-,..J.·-·

,I, -- •

·

• --=· ·1.~·-.: . . .-.... ,.

...)~:.:: ... .. :....,_. .' t,_·- ·i.;.'

--a., ~1..,-

~,:

•.

,-,~.:..,. '

#'

1

•

--

......

• ..

,J

II

ES LETTER .FROM [THE PRESIDEN [ -Ted Makeechak ·

,..

...

J

r

It

".

Dear HSASA,!embers, As you know our Annual Convenlion is coming up November 22, 1997. I encourage

you to make every effort to be there since the decisions we make at this important event will shape the future of our union organization.

AI1101m the itemson Uteagenda willbe Committee Rep»1s(rummarizingtlte~on•s affairsover the }XlSl 12 months),Re:olutio1~and electionof individualsto ExocutiveCouncil.

In my role as President of HSAS I have been fortunate,over the last year to witness and participate in the fonnation of a new organization. When the vote count finally detemlined that we would be the union representingPractitionersU1er i was a collective sigh of relief Umtit was finally over, a feelingof trepidation at U1eenom1ousand daunting task ahead, and a shared conviction that our Associationwill beable to offer a genuine wiion alternativeto professionalemployees in healthcare.

For existing members of Executive Cow1cilthe key will be to provide a background of experience and continuity while remaining open lo new ideas and differentapproaches. l11e newly elected Executive Council members wiII have their work cut out for Uiemforging a new constitution , preparing for bargaining and I

helping lo keep labour relations staff apprised of various workplace issues, conccn1s atid problems. l11ere ru·ea host of labour relations problems revolvingaround wlion jwisdiction and job classification. We are also discovering that llk'lll.J individualsin our PractitionerUnit have historicallyhad to 'fend for themselves', or, for one reasonor ru10ther.have been treated diCferenUyUmn Uieir professional collegues a11dco-workers. We 1nustaddress ll1escis.sues in a timely, principled, and if need be, aggressivemmmer.

Memiwhile, on ll1c admi1listrntive level,ExecutiveCow1ciland Labour Relations Staff have been immersed in U1e practical problems llmt emerge in any period of t.nmsition. Among otl1erU1ingswe have been, busy going lluough ll1erecmit.menlprocess in search of LRO's and secretmial staff: generating data-base fom1s; purchasing new computers mid computer sonwm·c; moving from a rall1er cramped office to more reasonablequmtcrs; opening a new office in Regina: organizing matc1ialsmid infonnat.ion for practitionermeetings in all of tJ1edistricts: putting togctl1e r a PractitionerUnit Surveyand preparingfor the upcomingConvention. will c:-.vircas of My tcnn as President.

November 22 mx.l I would like lo elm! by extending my tJmnks to our Labour Relations staff for ll1e mmvelous job they have done before,dming, mid after the vote campaign, mid to aJl of our Cow1cilMembers and volunteersfor taking so much t.imeout of l11eirlives to get the HSAS messageout.

Finally, on behalf of Executive CotmciJ and staff I want to coinmend the emergency crews that resp0nded to ll1e tragic Via Rail accident Wednesday September 3.

Emergency Medical Technicim1s (EMl) and Paramedicswere praised by both passengersand residentsofl11earea for Uieirremarkablyprompt intervention. After reading the newspaper coverage of ll1e Via Rail accident I was reminded Umtsaving lives mid comforting Uie sick and iqjw·ed is not so much a '.iob' healll1carc professionals· do. but an obligation ll1ey realize and finally. a commitment tl1ey keep-cvc1yday of ll1eirlife. ·.:.,,u • I hope lo see you al ll1e upcoming Annual Convc11tjo11! .....I

~

u.. .. .

.•

r[ ...., • -.

!Ii

'II -~ - .• _ri._-

-1;

~~.-~-:;r:r,. '{'~·--

Sincerely.

n...., ~

•

. c

l ..

• ,..,- ...... I-..r ~ ... .t.

..

..

,

·.:,., :=;;.

~ --"-

All:HSAS Members T",

WHAT: f°;',{ 1997 ANNUAL CONVENTION WH .ERE:

' Saskatoon Inn, (Canadian lloom), C ity of Saskatoon ~

Complin1entary wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres to follow!! !

GEN DA : The Convention Agenda and list of Nominees for election to Executive Council will be published in he pre-convention issue of DISPATCH

,~·s

SOLUTIONS : Members are invited to propose resolutions for discussion al the Annual Convention . esolutions received on or before October 15, 1997 will also be published in the pre-convention issue

/SPA1CH~-S

1

PRE:~REGISTER l FORcC THE UPGOMING CO.NVENTION! -!

•

&

..

If you are planning to altend the Annual Convent.ion, please fill in the Pre-Registration form included with this issue of DISPATCHES . We will endeavor to coordinate •car pools' once we have received the completed Pre-Registration forms . HSAS will reimburse gasoline expenditures onlv for those individuals in a car pool who have pre-registered .. When you have completed the form you may enclose it in the self-addressed envelope provided with the Practitioner Unit Survey. Be sure to m,lil the envelope contllinillg your Pre-Registratio11 Form ,mt! the completed Survey 110 /titer than October 24, 1997.

..

.. ,., t

#2-'3002 Louise St.

Saskatoon, Sask.

S7J-3L8 ,c.

Saskatoon Office: (306) 955-3399 Fax: (306) 955-3396 Toll Free: 1-888-565-3399

Executive Director: Tim Slattery Labour Relations: Alice Robert Administrative Assistant: Lynn Regier

Regina Office: (306) 766-4680 Fax: (306) 766-.4964

Regina Office : Roberta Ekberg

•

J·•

~

,.. =