Nurses grill health minister over job, wage woes

Newfoundland and Labrador nurses put the province's health minister on the hot seat at a forum Tuesday and then heard a promise that rewards are in the wings after years of tough contracts.

Delegates to a Newfoundland and Labrador Nurses Union forum in St. John's vented about being overworked and underpaid, with some pointing to research showing that the province's nurses have the highest rates of sickness in Canada.

Union president Debbie Forward told Health Minister Ross Wiseman to listen carefully to the complaints, which including comments that while pilots and truckers are forbidden from working long hours, nurses are often expected to work extra shifts, around the clock.

"I can tell you these people in this room are telling you today, and I'm sure they'll keep telling you, that it's time that you take nurses seriously and the problems in this system," Forward said.

"They're not going to go away and you're going to have to deal with it because nurses are going to force you to deal with it."

Wiseman, who joined Liberal and New Democratic leaders Gerry Reid and Lorraine Michael at the forum, said Progressive Conservative Leader Danny Williams will reward the nurses if the Tories win the Oct. 9 election.

"I think he's been really clear in indicating that he's looking forward to the next round of collective bargaining to be addressing the issues that are important to you," Wiseman said.

"But also we'll remember the sacrifices that you've made and want to reward your sacrifices."

Last October, the nurses' union and the government reached a three-year collective agreement retroactive to July 2005 that included no wage increase for the first year and raises of three per cent for the other two years.

Nurses have complained that the contract one in a series over the years meant to help the province curb expenses has made it difficult for health boards to recruit and keep nursing staff.

Reid capitalized on strong feelings at Tuesday's forum by promising to reinstate full-strength sick leave benefits, which were stripped in the last contract.

Later in the day, Reid took his message to Wiseman's own district of Trinity North.

"His record is a dismal one, and not only are the people in his district seeing that but people all around the province are," said Reid.

Reid said Wiseman should be defeated for no other reason than how he handled a series of problems including flawed breast cancer lab tests and a controversial radiology review at the Eastern Health authority.

NDP pitch health-conscious message

Michael put her focus Tuesday on health care as well.

She said the NDP wants to see a major expansion of coverage, including publicly run home care and home support, a public ambulance service and a greatly enhanced drug program.

"We have to see a pharmacare program for all residents with coverage for equipment and medications as an essential part of health care," Michael said.

Kathleen Connors, a retired nurse running in the St. John's-area district of Cape St. Francis, said management of the system will be a campaign issue.

"You talk to nurses, you talk to physicians and they are disgruntled at how decisions are being made in the system," Connors said.