AAHP Demands that Government Prioritize Honouring Contract Agreements
St. John’s, NL – The Association of Allied Health Professionals (AAHP) is calling on government to stop delaying and start meeting the obligations laid out in the contract agreement. After months of postponements, miscommunications, misinformation and a lack of transparency, the AAHP is demanding that the Government of NL and the Health Authority make things right immediately and compensate members who are now beyond frustrated.
“Our members are still not being paid properly! We have been in many meetings, sent countless emails, made calls and sent very clear messages to the employer that our members need to see compensation agreements met and are completely exhausted with the fact that government is not taking this seriously,” said Gord Piercey, President, AAHP.
“The effort required for the AAHP to push this and the lack of action by government is compromising our ability to represent our membership, which is absolutely not tolerable.” The AAHP has been constantly providing clarity on interpretations and seeking answers and information from the Health Authority for months, while also sharing concerns brought forward by members and trying to ensure Government honour the contract terms that were agreed upon.
“We signed a contract that had clear expectations last Spring. It’s appalling that receiving compensation which was already agreed to and laid out clearly in our contract is taking so much time, and resulting in so many errors,” adds Piercey. “Our members are vital healthcare professionals who are navigating a healthcare system that is strained, under resourced and in crisis. Where is the focus on retention? Where is the real effort from our government to protect and stabilize healthcare?”
The AHHP is demanding that government make allied health professionals a priority before it’s too late. For example, despite having a contract signed in spring 2024, most Members remain very confused and unsure if they are being paid correctly because the Employer hasn’t provided adequate explanations on their paystubs for amounts they are receiving. Other Members find themselves in overpayment situations due to Employer delays with contract implementation and they are experiencing undue stress when they receive sudden notification their paycheques will be reduced without discussion of options for repayment and some cases, not even being told the correct amounts they actually owe.
“The time has well past for these outstanding pay issues, along with multiple other examples of errors, misinterpretations, lack of information and timely, consistent communication from the Employer, to be resolved once and for all,” adds Piercey. “It’s an absolute mess. This is not the contract we agreed to and yet our members are becoming the collateral damage of this healthcare system’s chaos. Enough is enough.” says Piercey. “Had we have known that government would not uphold its agreements, this contract would never have been ratified.”
AAHP has lost faith in this government’s ability and willingness to uphold this contract and its commitment to stabilize healthcare in this province.
“The system is in turmoil. And while we wait for the new Health Authority to stumble through its HR challenges and attempt to responsibly manage its payroll, vital healthcare professionals are leaving. Which means access to care and quality of care for patients is also a casualty of this crisis and chaos. We all deserve better. Our members have limits to what they can withstand, and they are fed up waiting to be valued and treated with respect,” concludes Piercey.
Media Contact:
Erin Curran
1(709) 325-7193
erin@lupinecommunications.com