P.E.I. nurses frustrated by stalled collective bargaining after election call
Frustration is coming to a head for nurses on Prince Edward Island after two years without a contract.
Over the two-year period, the PEI Nurses Union and Health PEI have met for meetings 25 times.
The president of the PEI Nurses Union, Barbara Brookins, said they were approaching a critical point.
"Just as we felt that we were making some kind of momentum, we had our dates in March cancelled,” said Brookins. “We were told that we were under the caretaker convention, which is not even true, because we are Heath PEI employees, not public service employees."
The caretaker government convention contains rules on what government can and cannot do during an active election campaign, including collective bargaining. It came into effect as soon as the writ was dropped.
In a news release, Health PEI said they've been advised they do fall under the rules, meaning it cannot continue negotiations while the election is ongoing.
Officials said they have offered new dates in mid-April to resume talks.
Brookins said there is 24.4 per cent vacancy rate among registered nurses and nurse practitioners, adding that the expired contract is at least partly to blame.
"Salary rates that might have been good back two years ago, but are certainly not competitive with the Atlantic region right now," said Brookins.
The PEI Nurses Union is planning a rally in Charlottetown on Monday.
They’re also not the only health-care workers in the province's health system without an agreement.
By the end of March, all of the CUPE health-care support workers and nurses in the PEI Union of Public Sector Employees will be without a contract as well.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.