Dave Sullivan
Northern News Services

Hay River (Jan 21/02) - Change in the wind is not going over well in Hay River, where health and social workers are being forced to switch employers.

Under a new plan, 160 employees of Hay River's Health and Social Services Board will now have to work for the territorial government and re-join the Union of Northern Workers. They've been members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) union since voting to dump the UNW last September. Members weren't satisfied with the government union's representation.

The employer change could lead to massive wage cuts for 23 workers, because the territory allows contracting out of health-related work.

"We're very upset and disappointed," said Linda Beaton, chair of a PSAC group trying to keep the current labour contract. Citing figures from the Stanton health region, the first to contract out, Beaton said wages for non-professionals plummeted from $18 to $11 an hour.

When a Hay River employee at a Jan. 17 public meeting asked Health Minister Michael Miltenberger if he could live on $11 an hour, he said he "would have trouble."

The agreement PSAC has now in Hay River prohibits contracting out. The new structure could be bad news for kitchen, laundry and housekeeping staff. In front of about 60 reserved union employees, Miltenberger and board chair Larry Kathan would not rule out the contracting option.

Beaton criticized Miltenberger for breaking a promise to talk with PSAC before releasing his new action plan. The minister apologized for that, but he was firm about the changes.

"I'm not here to negotiate."

Hay River workers also risk losing pension benefits. Attempts will be made to transfer a Great West Life plan in which Hay River's health board matches employee contributions.

"It's a big issue for us who are old-timers," said diagnostic imaging supervisor Penny Lane-Clark. She's worried about losing her 20 years of pension seniority.

The Hay River workers also receive $6,000 worth of annual Northern allowances, about double the amount offered by the GNWT.

The authority of Hay River's health and social services board will be watered down under the plan to streamline the system, but it is endorsed by Kathan.

The board will still exist, but a government contract to deliver care is being terminated.

Still, Miltenberger's plan contains a lot of "very good" things, said Hay River Mayor Duncan McNeill.

For instance, he said, the town will no longer be liable for health-care deficits.

Last year the board posted a $700,000 deficit. The territorial government paid the tab but didn't have to, McNeill said.

Miltenberger told the Hay River audience that cabinet gave him "a large sum" of cash to help make the changes.