Dispatches December 1999

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Dispatches SASKATCHEWAN

HEALTH SCIENCES ASSOCIATION OF SASKATCHEWAN NEWSLETTER

HSAS TENTATIVE AGREEMENT RATIFIED BY 80. 7°/o OF THOSE VOTING

I DECEMBER 1~

Members of HSAS have voted overwhelmingly to ratify the September 3, 1999, tentative collective agreement between HSAS and SAHO. The bargaining teams met to sign the contract on December 6, 1999, and most provisions have now taken effect.

Of 2055 ballots mailed out, 1411 or 68.7% were returned. Results were as follows:

Accept the tentative agreement 1130

Reject the tentative agreement 271

Spoiled 10

The high voter response and the big majority voting to accept the agreement are gratifying.

Thank you to those HSAS members who took the time to attend a contract information meeting and vote on the tentative agreement. Special thanks are due to the HSAS Bargaining team and Executive Council for their efforts in seeing this daunting task through to completion. Thanks also to the scrutineers for the vote count, Debby Boyes, Terry Dodds, Donna Harris, Ted Makeechak, Tim Slattery and Della Yaroshko.

The agreement covers all members in the province for the first time, replacing 16 previous agreements that members were working under. It provides for a 2% general wage increase in each of three years and major benefit improvements for most members. Special wage adjustments provide for the substantial achievement of parity within each profession, as well as address recruitment and retention issues in those professions where shortages have been identified. Other areas in which there were significant gains include vacation, Family Responsibility Leave and car allowance.

A copy of the new collective agreement, along with the union's constitution, will be mailed to each member early in the new year. SAHO has indicated that, provided there are no major glitches, the retroactive pay will be paid out by the end of March, 2000. SAHO also tells us they are working to make changes in their payroll system to have our new rates in place by the middle of January.

fj 1999 ANNUAL CONVENTION II

The Annual Convention of HSAS was held Saturday, November 6, 1999, at the Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina. The meeting opened with a presentation by Janine Reed, Senior Policy Analyst with the Women's Secretariat, on Job Evaluation.

The Business Meeting was chaired by President, Natalie Horejda. Following the presentation of the President's, Executive Director's and various committee reports, the results of Executive Council elections were announced.

Upon adjournment of the Business Meeting:

1. A draw was made for two (2) $100.00 door prizes. The winners were Loralyn Levgner, a Health Educator and Dwight Tonn, a Paramedic, both from Regina Health District.

2. A social was held to welcome new members to the union.

MAIL-IN BALLOT RESULTS FOR VACANT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SEATS:

Professional I Composite Group Number of Successful Candidate/Health District Seats

1. Addiction Counsellors!Therapists 1 Seat Ron Thurlow - Regina

2. Assessor Coordinators 2 Seats Cathy Spencer - Living Sky Kathleen Malin - Moose Mountain

3. Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics 2 Seats Greg Marin, Paramedic - Regina Kateri Buckmever, Paramedic - Reqina

4. Pharmacists 1 Seat Monica Lawrence - Regina

5. Physical Therapists, Prosthetists, Orthotists, 1 Seat Gail Beggs-LaRiviere, Physical Therapist Exercise/Conditioning Therapists Regina

6. Respiratory Therapists and Perfusionists 1 Seat Mark Murray, Respiratory Therapist, Regina

7. Social Workers 1 Seat Krista Whittard - Saskatoon

NOTE: All of the above have been elected for the two (2) year term November 1999 to November 2000.

JOB EVALUATION · OUR NEXT BIG CHALLENGE

Our recently ratified collective agreement calls for HSAS and SAHO to begin working co-operatively on a genderneutral Joint Job Evaluation Plan (JJEP) for all members. The JJEP will fall under the terms of the government's Framework For Pay Equity and Equal Pay For Work Of Equal Value, which has been the basis for job evaluation projects already done in most other parts of the public sector.

What Is Pay Equity?

Pay equity is a process for achieving and maintaining wage equity in the workplace, based on the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. It is focused on ending gender based wage discrimination that results in the inequities of the female dominated jobs.

What Is Job Evaluation?

The Job Evaluation (JE) project will involve the establishment and application of a system of tools to measure and determine the relative worth or value of jobs within the scope of our collective agreement. It will also involve coordination with JE projects to enable comparison with other jobs in Saskatchewan's health sector.

In practical terms, this means that all jobs will be evaluated using consistent, objective criteria that will result in a quantitative measurement of the value of the job. Jobs are rated on several factors based on skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions. Points are assigned for each factor. Jobs are then assigned to pay bands based on the total points assigned.

How Will Members Be Affected?

For many members, the value of their jobs will remain unchanged. After all, no compensation system could continue to work if it were totally unreasonable. For some members who have had their jobs historically undervalued, Pay Equity will correct that inequity. Some members will find that their jobs decrease in value as a result of more objective and contemporary standards being applied, but no wage rates will be reduced to

· achieve pay equity.

As well as working toward eliminating gender-based historic biases that have hurt some occupational groups, JE will lead to other benefits. It will result in a classification system that is overall more consistent and rational and that will provide for appropriate compensation for the various responsibilities that have been thrust upon members in their work.

How Will It Be Done? How Long Will It Take?

A Joint Committee will be established over the next few weeks to plan and undertake the project. Activities over the first year of the project will include developing the best procedure for JE, identifying and weighting the factors to be measured and developing and testing a job evaluation questionnaire and other tools. One of the reasons that this will be a year long project is that there will be a great deal of effort to ensure that members all understand the process and have adequate opportunity for input.

The actual rating of the jobs will likely take another year. This will include, again, plenty of opportunity for members to better understand their ratings and challenge decisions if necessary.

Where Will The Money Come From?

The Government of Saskatchewan has committed funding for pay adjustments, as well as the costs of the project. SAHO has confirmed that it is prepared to cover the cost of the Job Evaluation and has committed at least 8% of payroll to cover the cost of these adjustments.

What's Next?

Executive Council has issued a call for volunteers to act as a consultative body in the job evaluation process. Each of the 28 professional groups can have two representatives. Volunteers will be asked:

To attend a conference in early February to learn more about the process and to begin making decisions about the directions to be taken.

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At that time, to select five or six representatives to sit as the union representatives on the Joint Job Evaluation Committee. To meet again over the course of the next year or two as may be determined necessary. To act as contacts for members of their professional groups with concerns about JE. To assist with member education and publicity activities. To be available for consultation as needed as issues arise.

If you are interested in helping in this way or if you have already told someone you wish to be on this committee, please follow up by contacting Charlene at the Regina office to volunteer - local 585-7751, toll free 1-877-585-4727. Names should be received by January 14, 1999.

If there are more than two volunteers from a professional group, Executive Council will select participants on the basis of ensuring representation on the basis of such criteria as rural and urban, or educational levels within a profession. The final decision will be by chance, that is, names will be drawn from a hat. If not enough members volunteer, Executive Council will appoint members to round out the committee.

II E-MAIL ADDRESSES II

Our union works to be accessible to its members. We are always looking for better ways to communicate information to our members and to hear from them. Many HSAS members have e-mail addresses both at work and at home. We would ask that you e-mail us a short note just so that we can add your address to our directory.

Please send your e-mail to:

[email protected]

MEET THE HEAL TH SUPPORT PRACTITIONERS

Since the inception of this column in November 1997, we have provided you some insight into what the following professionals are all about; Speech Language Pathologist, Audiologist, Prosthetist, Orthotist, Physical Therapist. Orthoptist, Perfusionist, Emergency Medical Technician and Paramedic.

In this edition, we have requested Debby Boyes from Saskatoon Health District to explain what Psychologists do and Ron Thurlow from Regina Health District to provide us with information on Addiction Counsellors.

II PSYCHOLOGISTS 11

What Is A Psychologist?

A psychologist studies and understands brain-behavior processes from a scientific viewpoint and then applies this knowledge to help people understand, explain and change behavior.

What Do Psychologists Do?

Psychologists study the biological and social principles of learning, behavior, emotion, motives, cognition and human development and their interaction with environmental and biochemical/genetic factors to answer research questions about how people respond in various facets of their lives. This information provides psychologists with a broad understanding of human and animal behavior, which they share with other disciplines and use to help people. Psychologists develop standardized assessment tools to measure behavior and therapeutic interventions to help people change their behavior and improve their ability to function as individuals and in groups.

What Are Some Roles Of Psychologists?

Professional psychologists have a variety of roles including:

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Direct Service - the provision and administration of psychological services to clients, patients and organizations in the areas of problem definition, needs assessment, diagnosis and the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions.

Outreach And Consultation - the preparation, presentation and coordination of educational programs and the dissemination of information or the provision of expertise to a variety of audiences.

Academic Preparation And Professional Development - the development, implementation, and administration of education programs for psychologists including teaching, supervision and curricula.

Research And Evaluation - the development and participation in any investigation and the use of results to expand or refine knowledge or to improve programs and services.

Where Do Psychologists Work?

There are several fields of study and practice in psychology including:

Clinical, counseling and community psychologists may work in mental health settings, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, community clinics and in private practice with patients who need assistance with mental health and physical adjustment problems. Health psychologists may work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers and private practice with . persons who have adjustment problems to physical · illness and disability. School psychologists may work in school settings to help teachers, parents and students understand and remediate learning and behavior problems. Neuropsychologists may work in hospital settings and private practice with clients who have brain injuries and dysfunctions. Industrial or organizational psychologists may work in business, industry, private consulting and government to improve such things as employee functioning, administrative systems and the workplace environment. Forensic psychologists may work in prisons and correctional settings to facilitate offender rehabilitation and transition back to society. They also may work in communities to help develop prevention and rehabilitation programs.

Experimental, social and developmental psychologists primarily may work in universities, government and industry where they conduct research to contribute new knowledge to the science and practice of psychology. Faculty members at universities teach courses and oversee the training of new psychologists. Psychology professors often work as consultants or practitioners outside of the university and many psychologists who work in other settings teach courses at universities as well.

What Is Required To Become A Psychologist?

In Canada, psychologists must hold either a Masters or a Doctoral degree in psychology. University faculty positions usually required a Doctoral degree. Those psychologists who work in applied settings are required to be licensed by their province to practice psychology. Many provinces require additional supervised work and internship experience in addition to formal education and most require written and oral exams prior to licensing. University professors and research psychologists do not necessarily require a license to do research.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Psychologist?

In Canada, it typically takes a minimum of four years to complete an undergraduate honours degree in psychology, a minimum of two years after the Bachelors degree to complete a Masters degree and a minimum of four to five years after the Bachelors degree to complete the Doctoral degree. Some students then decide to spend one or two years of further study in a post-doctoral program .

ADDICTION COUNSELLORS

Addiction counselling in Saskatchewan dates back to 1953 with the development of the Bureau on Alcoholism. The first counselling centres were established in 1959 in Regina and 1966 in Saskatoon. Today, Addiction Counsellors are part of the core services offered in 32 Health Districts.

What Services Do Addition Counsellors Provide?

Addiction Counsellors are addiction specialists who utilize a holistic approach in assisting clients to recognize and recover from the effects of chemical dependence or co-

dependence. Our goal is to help clients self-evaluate the affect that substance use has had on their lives and offer appropriate treatment programming that will assist the clients to develop healthier lifestyles. Services are offered to adolescents and adults.

Addiction Counsellors are professionals and paraprofessionals who provide a wide variety of services to their communities. These services include:

Screening and assessment for chemical dependence. Screening and assessment for co-dependence. Screening and assessment for relapse. Providing counselling and treatment services.

One-to-one counselling Group therapy Couples and family counselling Day-patient treatment programs In-patient treatment programs

Screening and referral for coexisting disorders. Facilitating community and professional education programs. Providing intervention services to families and employers.

Who Are Our Clients?

Our clients come from all walks of life, all cultural backgrounds and all income levels. Addiction is recognized as a family illness, meaning that every member of the family can be affected by the chemical use of one or more members and all may require assistance in recovery. This assistance may vary from a referral to a community-based support group to in-depth treatment and long-term aftercare counselling.

Referrals are accepted from many agencies such as social service agencies, physicians, hospitals and detoxification centres, mental health services, Saskatchewan Government Insurance, Probation and Parole Services, teachers and guidance counsellors, clergy and EAP referral agents. Self referrals are also readily accepted.

Since many clients are mandated to attend our services, they are often resistant to change and motivational counselling skills are necessary to assist the client to regain a healthy, productive and happy lifestyle. To this end, Addiction Counsellors help to develop a holistic, client-centered treatment and recovery plan.

Referrals who are assessed for chemical dependence and are found non-dependent may be referred to another agency, if appropriate.

What Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Do Addiction Counsellors Require?

A thorough knowledge of cause and effects of addiction on individuals, couples and families. A knowledge of drugs, drug interactions and symptoms of use and withdrawal. An in-depth knowledge of the developmental process of recovery and appropriate strategies of implementation. Knowledge of community resources. Basic knowledge of personality disorders. Basic knowledge of how trauma affects the recovery process. Strong interpersonal skills. Good verbal and written communication skills. Motivational and confrontational counselling skills. Group facilitation skills. Multi-modality therapeutic skills. Crisis management/suicide intervention skills. Conflict resolution skills.

Education And Experience Required

Addiction Counsellors required a two year Certificate/Diploma in Chemical Dependency studies or a Degree in a Human Services field, including courses and field work in counselling skills or a combination of chemical dependency counselling, clinical education, training and experience. At this point, Addiction Counsellors are not required to be certified by any association. Certifications are available from two different Canadian certifying bodies and some counsellors have chosen to join these organizations.

HEAL TH CARE WORKERS REGAIN THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE THEIR UNION???

On January 17, 2000, pursuant to Section 8 of The Health Labour Relations Reorganization Act, the Labour Relations Board regains its authority to determine bargaining units.

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Just as importantly, health care workers also regain the right to choose their bargaining agent as enshrined by Section 3 of the Trade Union Act.

The problem is CUPE, SEIU and SUN have approached the Saskatchewan Government and have asked that they override the legislation and maintain the Dorsey Freeze. This would mean that health care workers would continue to be denied the right to choose which union they can belong to.

Of the major health care unions, only HSAS and SGEU have:

1. Stood up for the right of health care workers to choose their union and

2. Requested the Dorsey freeze come off January 17, 2000, as specified by the Health Labour Relations Reorganization Act.

The Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan has always stood for the democratic rights of workers to choose and we continue to fight for these principles.

To date, the government has made no decision on the request from CUPE, SEIU and SUN.

HSAS SUPPORTS CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Continuing Education Fund was established at the October 1990 Annual General Meeting with the purpose

of promoting continuing education in the areas directly related to one's present position.

A lottery system is used to select applicants with five (5) names drawn on October 1st and five (5) names on May 15th of each year. Successful applicants are eligible for a maximum of $500.00.

It is the position of HSAS that the responsibility for assuming costs associated with continuing job related education resides with the employer. To ensure our fund is not treated as a primary funding source, the Education Fund Committee requires members to apply to their employers or other sources prior to making application to the HSAS Education Fund. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification of the applicant.

Successful applicants for the October 1, 1999, draw were as follows:

Rosemary Hill-Vandenberg Physical Therapist, Saskatoon

Marion McKenzie Infection Control Practitioner, Saskatoon

Curtis Mills Social Worker, Saskatoon

Lorraine Rathgeber Physical Therapist, Saskatoon

Ruth Wong Psychologist, Saskatoon

NOTE: We average about 20 applicants per draw so the chance of being selected is quite good.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. Executive C ·1 is th body that conducts the b · ,f th bet A IC r

PROFESSIONS # OF SEATS ELECTED AND ADDRESSES TERM ENDS

Ron Thurlow - Regina Health District November Addiction Counsellors/Therapists 1 710 Cavendis Street 2001

Regina, SK S4N 5C1 Stan Dimnik - Saskatoon Health District November 1510 - 7th Avenue North 2000

Social Workers 2 Saskatoon, SK S7K2W5 Krista Whittard - Saskatoon Health District November 528 - 5th Street East 2001 Saskatoon, SK S7H 1G3 Cathy Spencer - Living Sky Health District November

Assessor I Coordinators 2 Box 883 2001 Watrous, SK SOK 4TO Kathleen Malin - Moose Mountain Health District November Box 302 2001 Gainsborouoh, SK SOC 020

Speech Language Pathologists, Laura Carney, Speech Language Pathologist November Audiologists, Orthoptists, Music 1 Saskatoon Health District 2000 Therapists 205 • 220 Clarence Avenue South

Saskatoon, SK S7N 1H3 Respiratory Therapists, Perfusionists Mark Murray, Respiratory Therapist - Regina Health District November

1 1725 Regent Street 2001 Reoina, SK S4N 1 S4 Kateri Buckmeyer, Paramedic - Regina Health District November 7 4 Mollard Crescent 2001

Emergency Medical Technicians, 2 Regina, SK S4T 6J2 Paramedics Greg Marin, Paramedic - Regina Health District November

35 Thistle Bay 2001 Reoina, SK S4R 6R6 Gail Beggs-LaRiviere, Physical Therapist· Regina Health District November

Physical Therapists, Prosthetists, 2 6223 -1 5' Avenue North 2001 Orthotists, Exercise I Conditioning Regina, SK S4T 7A1 Therapists JoAnn Walker, Physical Therapist · Saskatoon Health District November

343 Benesh Crescent 2000 Saskatoon, SK S7K 6P1

Public Health Inspectors, Infection Dwayne Liebelt, Public Health Inspector-Saskatoon Health District November Control Practitioners 1 #310-403 Tait Court 2000

Saskatoon, SK S7H 5L3 Monica Lawrence - Regina Health District November

Pharmacists 1 2301 Herchmer Street 2001 Reoina, SK S4V 2N5 Lisa Brown - Regina Health District November

Occupational Therapists 1 755 Seymour Crescent North 2000 Reoina, SK S4X 285 Leo Champigny, Mental Health Therapist November

Recreation Therapists, Mental 1 South Central Health District 2000 Health Therapists 720 Mclelland Street

Weyburn, SKS4H 2S1 Debby Boyes, Psychologist - Saskatoon Health District November

Psychologists, Psychometricians 1 912 - 606 Victoria Avenue 2000 Saskatoon, SK S7N 021

Dietitians, Nutritionists, Dental Johanna Bergerman, Nutritionist· Saskatoon Health District November Hygienists/Therapists, Health 1 524 Copland Crescent 2000 Educators Saskatoon, SK S7H 225

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HEAL TH DISTRICT ASSIGNMENTS

We encourage members' concerns and questions be directed to the staff person assigned to their Health District/Worksite.

I HEALTH DISTRICTS. LABOUR RELATIONS OFFICERS (REGINA) I

Phone Number 585-7753 E-mail Address [email protected]

GREG DEREN

Moose Mountain Pipestone South Central

. South East Touchwood Qu'Appelle

NOTE: Both Greg and Mario will handle Regina Health District

Phone Number E-mail Address

MARIO KIJKOWSKI

Assiniboine Valley East Central Living Sky

585-7754 [email protected]

Moose Jaw/Thunder Creek North Valley South Country

II HEALTH DISTRICTS· LABOUR RELATIONS OFFICERS (SASKATOON) II Phone Number 955-5712 E-mail Address [email protected]

KEVIN GLASS

Greenhead Keewatin Yathe Lloyd minster Mamawetin Churchill River Midwest Northwest Prairie West Rolling Hills Saskatoon • ldylwyld Health Centre • Sherbrooke

Parkridge • Royal University Hospital • Kinsmen Centre • McKerracher

Youth Services 20th Street South West Swift Current Twin Rivers

955-3454 Phone Number E-mail Address harrisd [email protected]

DONNA HARRIS

Battlefords Central Plains Gabriel Springs North Central North East Parkland Pasquia Prince Albert Saskatoon

Calder Sturdy Stone

• Nurses Alumnae Wing • Saskatoon City Hospital

St. Paul's Hospital

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Have you changed your name, address, telephone number(s), place of employment, classification (II, Ill, Senior, M.A., etc.) or status (fulltime, part time, L.O.A., etc.)?

If you have, please let us know by clipping out the "Change Of Information" form and forward it to the Saskatoon HSAS office at #42 -1736 Quebec Avenue, Saskatoon, SK, S7K 1V9.

CHANGE OF INFORMATION FORM

HEAL TH DISTRICT

MEMBER NAME

PREVIOUS NAME (IF CHANGED)

HOME ADDRESS

HOME PHONE NO.

WORK PHONE NO.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT

CLASSIFICATION

STATUS

DATE IN EFFECT

AUnlonJofr tile· 1i1. . •1 nals , · ,a 1t1'9! Carre1 Prratess10 - · _,

Dispatches is Published for the information of members of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan.

Regina Office #202- 4401 Albert Street Regina, Saskatchewan

545686 Phone: (306) 585-7751 Fax: (306) 585-7750

Toll Free 1-877-889-4727

Saskatoon Office #42-1736 Quebec Avenue Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

S7K 1V9 Phone: (306) 955-3399 Fax: (306) 955-3396

Toll Free 1-888-565-3399

Website http//www3.sk.sympatico.ca/hsas/

Note: If any of your colleagues express concern about not receiving their newsletter, please have them call the Saskatoon Office.

SASKATCHEWAN iJ.1

1 l'h1 s ·-m.ea~ ~,L ~ _ ·clenees Assoclati"Qlli of Saskilehewan

Hnltll &:lsnt:n Anot:latlon ol 6a6katt:ll•wan 42 - 1T36 Qllllbst: A""nu•

S..katoon, SK STK 1VII

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Dispatches December 1999

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