Hospital, nurses trying to avert strike action

Negotiators for Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH) and its nursing staff have been ordered back to the bargaining table by the federal government in the hopes of averting a strike.

Negotiators for Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH) and its nursing staff have been ordered back to the bargaining table by the federal government in the hopes of averting a strike.

Negotiations between the hospital and Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents between 140 and 150 nurses, pharmacists, therapists and social workers at WGH, broke off in April.

Disagreement over wages led to the impasse causing members to vote “overwhelmingly” to resort to strike action that could come before summer’s end, according to a PIPSC press release issued Tuesday.

By order of federal Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, both sides have returned to negotiations in Whitehorse.

“We’re in the first day of conciliation, we have three days booked and we’re very optimistic that we’re going to be able to successfully conclude negotiations through this process,” hospital CEO Joe MacGillivray told the Star Tuesday afternoon.

James Bart, the union’s negotiator, is not so optimistic, calling the Yukon government’s handling of its health care human resources “inept.”

“Every other jurisdiction in the country recognizes that it is competing for a scarce comodity… because of shortsighted cuts in the ‘90s, there just aren’t enough professionals, especially nurses, to meet the demands of an aging population,” Bart said in the press release.

Saskatchewan recently offered its nurses a 35-per-cent wage increase over five years, “just to keep up with Alberta,” added Bart.

“But we’re not asking for anything close to that. Our wage proposal is not out of line with what’s happening south of 60. But the hospital hasn’t offered anything in the form of a wage increase.”

If the hospital and union cannot reach an agreement, precipitating a strike, MacGillivray said the WGH would remain open.

“It would not (close); there are plans in place for how you would deal with this, but I’m not willing to go there right now,” he said. “We want to let the conciliation process work through its course.”

The Star’s calls to Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers placed Tuesday and this morning were not returned.

Hospital communications director Val Pike said this morning the specifics of the negotiations, such as salary and benefits demands and counter-offers, are under embargo while the parties are in the conciliation process.