Yellowknife (Feb 16/04) - Some Stanton Territorial Hospital nurses are getting big pay raises. Other nurses whose wages are unchanged aren't happy about it.

In December, health care jobs were evaluated using the Hay Job Evaluation System.

It ranks jobs based a variety of factors, from level of education to know-how, problem solving, accountability and working conditions. Points are given and pay raises result for some of the NWT's 470 health care workers.

According to the Union of Northern Workers, the evaluation resulted in a pay increase 55 per cent of health care workers. Some will get increases as high as 20 per cent. Average wage hike is eight per cent.

"A lot of these jobs had their points increased and some of the positions got a pay raise," said Barb Wyness, UNW public relations officer.

Retroactive wages dating back to 2000 will also be paid out to many of the workers. No workers will receive a pay cut.

"There was a very small number whose points went down," said Wyness. "But nobody who is currently in a job is going to suffer a pay loss."

The evaluation is dependent on where the worker is working and what they are doing, therefore, Wyness said, two registered nurses with the same qualifications may have a different point rating, resulting in a different pay rate.

"The general feeling is discontent and frustration," said one nurse who isn't getting an increase. She declined to gave her name.

"A lot of nurses are very upset."

Several nurses contacted by News/North called the system unfair, but they declined to comment on the record.

There are also unconfirmed reports a petition is circulating among nurses.

Chuck Parker, chief executive officer of Stanton, said any worker upset with the job evaluation can write a letter of appeal.

"We have gone through a whole exercise with the staff briefing them on the process for people to appeal," he said.

Total cost of the pay raises remains unclear.

Health Minister Michael Miltenberger did not return phone calls by deadline and human resources officials refused to release any information.

"The reviewing and evaluating of positions is a normal procedure," said Sharilyn Alexander, director of human resources. "The GNWT isn't in the practice of releasing that information."