Update on Conditions at Northwood Manor
- Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union -
Members of the Nova Scotia Government and General
Employees Union (NSGEU) who have redeployed to the Northwood Manor
long-term care home are facing not only terrible conditions for
themselves and the residents of the home, as reported in Workers' Forum on April 24, but the fact
that the Minister of Health and Wellness has usurped the workers right
to have a say in the redeployment, as well as matters of health and
safety at Northwood Manor. Below is the NSGEU's update from April 24 on
the situation.
***
NSGEU members were mandated by the Minister of Health to
be redeployed at Northwood Manor via Ministerial Order. We now know
that other units are being told by management at NSHA [Nova Scotia
Health Authority] that if they do not volunteer to go to Northwood they
may be mandated to go, as well. This is unacceptable.
The union's position on this issue is quite clear:
redeployment to another employer must be done on a volunteer basis,
only. To this end, the NSGEU sent a letter to Randy Delorey, the
Minister of Health & Wellness, yesterday. The Union advised Mr.
Delorey that our legal counsel believes his order exceeded his
Ministerial authority, as it
forced NSHA to redeploy its employees in a manner that was contrary to
the collective agreements that are binding on the Health Authority.
Neither the Health Authorities Act nor the Public Service Act give a Minister the power to do that. (Click here to read the
NSGEU letter in its entirety).
The Councils of Unions has demanded an immediate
withdrawal of the Minister's directives and asked that he advise the
NSHA to respect the terms of the collective agreements to which it is a
party. The Councils also asked to meet with the Minister immediately to
continue to develop a plan that will allow us to cooperatively respond
to the
situation at Northwood.
As a further update, NSGEU is pleased to report there
have been important improvements in infection control protocols and
access to appropriate PPE at Northwood Manor since the NSGEU went
public with our members' concerns on Wednesday.
There are now educators visible and active on the units
our members are assigned to at Northwood Manor, and Infection Control
from NSHA has been on site. Charge nurses are now in place on 1 Centre
and they are getting things organized. Redeployed nurses say they are
feeling supported by their own 8.4 manager, who is on-site and
available to help them. Northwood is staffing 2 CTAs [Care Team
Assistants] from 7 am to 3 pm and another two working from 3 pm to 11
pm to assist our nurses on 1 Centre, and they are also providing CTAs
on 11 Manor. There are still no yellow hazard bags, as all garbage is
mixed in the hallways, and Infection Control continues to
insist that N95s are not necessary on these units, although lots of
other PPE is now available.
Management on these units are being supportive and our
members are working hard with the existing staff to help get the
outbreak at Northwood Manor under control.
We will continue to fight for the rights and safety of
our members during this incredibly stressful time. We appreciate your
professionalism and dedication to protecting your patients, your
co-workers, yourselves, and your loved ones.
In solidarity,
Jason MacLean
President, NSGEU
This article was published in
Number 26 - April 27, 2020
Article Link:
Update on Conditions at Northwood Manor - Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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