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Tuesday November 10, 2009

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NEWS: HEALTHCARE WORKFORCE

 


 

1030 Immunize our front-line corrections staff, OPSEU tells McGuinty [Toronto ON]--Staff working in Ontario's correctional facilities should be a priority for H1N1 immunization, says the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

OPSEU recently learned that offenders in the province's jails, detention centres, youth centres and treatment centres are being immunized against swine flu, while correctional staff working in the same facilities are not being afforded the same protection.

"Offenders being admitted to our facilities can carry a wide range of infectious diseases, including the swine flu virus," said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "Other than front-line health care workers, this group of employees is at the highest risk of contracting the disease due to the closed quarters they are working in."

Thomas is urging the McGuinty government to re-think their decision not to hold immunization clinics for the staff in adult and youth facilities.

"Our members have to be on the job 24 hours a day, seven days a week," Thomas said. "An outbreak of H1N1 could seriously jeopardize operations in these facilities, so it only makes good sense to take precautions now."

 

 

1023 Vaccination contre la grippe A (H1N1): les droits du personnel de la santé seront respectés [Montreal QC]--La Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS-CSN) accueille avec satisfaction l'assurance faite ce matin par le ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux que les droits des travailleuses et des travailleurs de la santé seront respectés dans le cadre de la campagne de vaccination massive pour contrer la pandémie du virus de la grippe A (H1N1).

 

Cette garantie a été donnée lors d'une rencontre tenue à Montréal, à laquelle ont participé notamment des représentants de la CSN et de la FSSS-CSN, cette dernière représentant 125 000 syndiqué-es dans les établissements publics et privés de la santé et des services sociaux.

Pour Nadine Lambert, responsable du dossier de la pandémie du virus de la grippe A (H1N1) à la FSSS-CSN, cette rencontre contraste radicalement avec l'atmosphère des derniers jours alors que des déclarations contradictoires ont été émises par plusieurs décideurs publics, semant des inquiétudes et la crainte parmi le personnel des établissements de santé.

 

"Nous sommes satisfaits des discussions que nous avons eues ce matin avec le Ministère et la direction du Comité patronal de négociation du secteur de la santé et des services sociaux (CPNSSS). Les échanges ont été francs et rassurants. Ils ont surtout servi à établir une collaboration nécessaire dans le respect des droits des travailleuses et des travailleurs" d'affimer madame Lambert, également vice-présidente du personnel en soins infimiers et cardiorespiratoires à la fédération.

Convoquée à la demande de la partie syndicale, la rencontre a permis de faire le point sur la pandémie et de baliser l'organisation de la campagne de vaccination, particulièrement sous l'angle du personnel de la santé, identifié comme un élément clef de la réussite de cette opération sans précédent.

 

Ainsi, dans la planification et la mise en branle des mesures pour contrer la pandémie, les directions d'établissements devront prioriser une démarche basée sur la collaboration et le volontariat des salarié-es plutôt que sur une approche coercitive et irrespectueuse des droits. Ainsi en est-il de la vaccination libre et volontaire du personnel qui pourra s'exercer sans contrainte ni menace advenant un refus.

Les organisations syndicales et les syndicats seront également mis à contribution pour la durée de la période de vaccination. Des interventions seront faites par le ministère pour rappeler aux établissements la nécessité de travailler de façon paritaire avec les représentants syndicaux. Des garanties ont aussi été données que les lois et les dispositions locales des conventions collectives seront respectées.

 

De plus, un canal de communication sera instauré entre les organisations syndicales et les autorités gouvernementales de façon à traiter puis à régler rapidement les difficultés qui pourraient survenir en cours de route. Une rencontre est d'ailleurs prévue dans deux semaines afin de suivre l'évolution de ce dossier.

 

 

1009 H1N1 Expanded call to action for healthcare workers willing to support flu response [Manitoba]--In preparation for flu season, Manitoba is asking health-care workers to step forward and share their expertise at vaccination clinics, in intensive-care units or in northern or remote communities, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.

“Manitoba’s health-care workers have already done a tremendous job responding to H1N1 and we can count on their knowledge, compassion and care during the upcoming flu season,” said Oswald. “Many other Manitobans have skills that will help strengthen our flu preparation and response, so I encourage them to respond to our call to action.”

Manitoba is looking for front-line health-care providers and support staff including:
· doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners (registered or retired) to administer vaccinations or to work in immunization clinics;
· people who have had experience working in immunization clinics, either to greet or register visitors;
· nurses and other health-care providers with experience in intensive-care units; and
· doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners willing to provide medical support in remote or northern communities.

Health-care workers will be matched with regional health authorities based on their skills and local need. To get more information or to register, health-care workers should call 1-866-799-0174 or email calltoaction@gov.mb.ca.  Ads are running across the province to encourage health-care providers to work at upcoming H1N1 flu vaccination clinics.

Manitoba continues to prepare for the expected return of H1N1 flu this fall and winter and recently announced a five-point, $47-million plan outlining the provincial response. An H1N1 information campaign is now underway and a guide to help Manitobans identify flu symptoms and decide when to seek care has been delivered to all households. A print and radio campaign focused on prevention and self-care has also begun. New guidance and information continues to be distributed and posted on the provincial flu web site at www.manitoba.ca.

 

 

1009 H1N1 La FIQ somme le ministre Bolduc de cesser de faire la sourde oreille à la situation non sécuritaire des professionnelles en soins enceintes [Quebec]--Questionné hier en chambre par l'opposition officielle, le ministre de la Santé et des Services sociaux, Yves Bolduc, a déclaré que :

"Au niveau du H1N1, c'est la Santé publique qui détermine les conditions de retrait préventif et de réaffectation. Tant dans le cas des travailleurs de l'éducation que dans le cas des travailleurs de la santé, tout a été balisé et tout a été informé. Et je peux vous dire que la première personne concernée, c'est la patiente elle-même, qui rencontre son médecin, et les indications sont très claires : le moindre risque, elle doit être retirée de son milieu de travail".

Le ministre prétend que tout le monde a été informé des balises données par la Santé publique sur l'application prioritaire du programme de retrait préventif pour les travailleuses des réseaux scolaire et de la santé. Pourtant, les employeurs ne prennent pas au sérieux la santé et la sécurité des professionnelles en soins enceintes en les réaffectant à des postes qui présentent des risques. Face au comportement de leur employeur, ces salariées doivent s'engager dans une longue bataille pour faire valoir leur droit en continuant d'être exposées aux risques de contamination.

"Le ministre Bolduc a tout faux quand il dit que tout le monde est informé puisque les employeurs du réseau de la santé jouent actuellement avec la santé des professionnelles en soins enceintes. C'est sa responsabilité de s'assurer que les mesures soient prises pour la protection de la santé de ces femmes et de leur enfant à naître. Le ministre ne peut remettre de la sorte ses responsabilités sur les épaules de ces salariées. S'il est sérieux quand il dit que "c'est la maternité sans danger pour la femme; on veut la protection du fœtus, la protection de la mère", il va donner des directives claires et s'assurer que les employeurs les suivent correctement", a déclaré Régine Laurent, présidente de la Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec - FIQ.

 

 

1009 H1N1 La FIQ exige que les professionnelles en soins enceintes soient retirées de leur milieu de travail [Quebec]--Réunies à Laval la semaine dernière, les déléguées du conseil fédéral de la Fédération interprofessionnelles de la santé du Québec - FIQ ont partagé l'état de situation entourant la grippe A (H1N1). Devant le manque de prudence de plusieurs employeurs, les représentantes des infirmières, des infirmières-auxiliaires, des inalothérapeutes et des perfusionnistes en sont venues à la conclusion que leurs collègues enceintes doivent être retirées de leur milieu de travail pour leur sécurité et celle de leur enfant à naître.

Il est reconnu que les pandémies d'influenza que nous avons connues dans le passé représentaient un danger pour la femme enceinte et pour son enfant à naître. De plus, le taux d'hospitalisation de la femme enceinte est plus élevé lors d'épidémie de grippe saisonnière. Comme le A (H1N1) est un nouveau virus dont les effets sur la santé ne sont pas totalement connus et qu'il y a eu des cas de complications et même de mortalité de femmes enceintes, la prudence doit donc être de mise.

"Comme les personnes présentant des symptômes grippaux, possiblement atteintes du virus A (H1N1), fréquentent nécessairement les milieux de soins, de toute évidence les professionnelles en soins sont susceptibles de les côtoyer de près. Ces contacts rapprochés constituent une exposition à risque pour les professionnelles et pour leur fœtus. En vertu des principes de précaution et de prudence et de l'attitude de plusieurs employeurs qui ne respectent pas ces principes, les professionnelles enceintes doivent être retirées complètement de leur milieu de travail. Le ministre Bolduc doit donner une directive claire en ce sens dans les plus brefs délais" a déclaré Régine Laurent, présidente de la FIQ.

 

 

1009 Gov Patrick releases $8.1M in first round of stimulus funding to rehire firefighters [Massachusetts]--Moving to help municipal fire departments impacted by budget cuts that have forced layoffs and vacancies resulting from attrition, Governor Deval Patrick today announced he will release $8.1 million in federal stimulus funds to 13 municipal fire departments in the Commonwealth. The funds will be used to rehire 127 firefighters who were laid off because of budget reductions.

Today’s announcement marks the first round of awards to fire departments from the $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) discretionary funds the Patrick-Murray Administration set aside specifically to help fire departments address staffing reductions caused by the current recession. 

“A global economic collapse has hit cities and towns hard and forced communities to reduce firefighter staffing levels,” said Governor Patrick. “These stimulus funds come at a critical time, and promise to bring immediate relief to these 13 fire departments and enhance local public safety. I thank the congressional delegation on their hard work to make these funds available so that cities and towns can better manage through to the better days ahead.”

In this first round of grant awards, $8.1 million will be used to rehire 127 laid off firefighters in Bridgewater, Easton, Fall River, Hull, Lakeville, Lawrence, Methuen, Monson, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Quincy, Walpole and Worcester. Please see full list of awards in the attached spreadsheet.

“We know that our cities and towns have been hit hard by these difficult economic times,” said Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray. “But with these recovery funds, we are able to provide much needed financial assistance to fire departments in municipalities across the state, which will result in bringing back lost jobs, retaining public safety services and helping to stimulate the local economy.”

“We passed the Recovery Act to stop the economic bleeding and get workers back on their feet, and nothing is more important than rehiring firefighters laid off because of slumping municipal budgets. We’re putting people back to work, keeping our communities safe and investing in our local economy. Governor Patrick has kept faith with our first responders and honored his commitment to put our firefighters back on the job,” said Senator John Kerry.

"Our courageous first responders deserve the best," said Senator Paul G. Kirk Jr. "Communities across the Commonwealth are struggling to get back on their feet, and this federal funding will go a long way to restoring vital services."

“I am very pleased that the people of Fall River and New Bedford will be benefiting in a very direct way from this allocation by Governor Patrick of significant funding to put firefighters back on the street in both cities,” said Congressman Barney Frank. “I have only one regret – that we couldn’t allocate more money directly through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act because we couldn’t get the votes of three Republican Senators; the final amount was $25 billion less for states than it was when the bill left the House. But even at this level, the number of firefighters who will be added is very important, both for the firefighters and their families, and for the protection it will be giving to the people of the cities of Fall River and New Bedford. Governor Patrick recently took the first concrete steps towards providing commuter rail between our region and Boston, and I am very grateful he is following that recognition of our regional needs with this significant allocation of funding to Fall River and New Bedford.”

“The public safety of the people of Massachusetts must always remain one of our highest priorities. As a result, it is essential that our local fire departments have the required personnel to do their jobs effectively. The $146,000 in federal assistance announced by Governor Patrick today will provide the Monson Fire Department with the resources necessary to continue to protect their community. It is another example of the stimulus package making a difference here in western Massachusetts,” said Congressman Richard E. Neal.

“I want to congratulate the Quincy and Hull Fire Departments in receiving funds which will be used to rehire firefighters who were laid off due to budget cuts,” said Congressman William Delahunt. “Since firefighters themselves are a department’s most valuable asset, it is vital that staffing is kept at a level which will enhance public safety.”

“I’m very pleased that Fall River, North Attleboro and Worcester will be receiving this important stimulus funding,” said Congressman James McGovern. “Local budgets have been hit hard during the economic downturn, and it’s critical that we support public safety. I want to thank the Governor for his dedication to this issue.”

“These grants are welcome news for our courageous firefighters across the Commonwealth,” Congressman Stephen F. Lynch said. “With cities and towns struggling during these difficult economic times, I am pleased to see that Governor Patrick is using these stimulus funds to help maintain staffing levels and keep our communities safe.” 

"We all know what a devastating effect the economic downturn has had on local municipal budgets," said Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. "These federal funds are critical to the ability of our cities and towns to maintain public safety services and preserve the jobs of those who sacrifice so much on our behalf. I want to thank Governor Patrick for making them available to our communities."

By earmarking $20 million in federal stimulus funding for municipal fire departments, the Governor is seeking to bolster staffing levels by allowing cities and towns to rehire as many laid off firefighters as possible, prevent further layoffs and address staffing reductions caused by attrition. This grant program gives communities much needed flexibility in dealing with reduced public safety budgets.

Eighty-seven fire departments from across the state submitted applications to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security as part of the Patrick-Murray administration’s Fire Services Staffing Grant Program. The process of reviewing those applications and making grant decisions remains underway.  

“This much needed funding helps ensure that communities will have adequate staffing to preserve public safety, which is a critical priority of this administration,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Kevin M. Burke. “This is just the first round of funding. The administration will be awarding another $11.9 million to communities that have seen their fire departments downsized as a result of budget cuts. We are moving quickly to provide critically needed assistance to local fire departments.” 

The ARRA includes only one program for local fire departments. The Act makes $210 million available nationally through a competitive grant program to support the renovation and construction of local fire stations. The ARRA does not earmark any stimulus money to fire departments to bolster staffing or for programs that have been reduced or eliminated as a result of the current recession.                                                   

Today’s announcement is on top of $45 million in previously committed ARRA funding going directly from the federal government to municipal police departments across the state. In total, $71 million in federal recovery funds are being directed to local public safety officials who continue to face difficult budget challenges caused by the unprecedented global economic downturn.

 

1009 Fenty administration announces revisions to first responders health benefits [Washington DC]--Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, joined by Chief Cathy Lanier and Chief Dennis Rubin today announced revisions to health benefits for the District’s first responders.

“As first responders, our police officers and firefighters are often unsung heroes, and we want to ensure they receive the highest quality of benefits,” Mayor Fenty said.

In recognition of the unusual post-employment health issues faced by police officers and firefighters, Chief Lanier and Chief Rubin have worked with Mayor Fenty to revise the retiree health benefits policy in order to minimize the impact on police officers and firefighters.

Dependents of any officer or firefighter injured or killed in the line of duty will receive the maximum retiree health benefits from the District regardless of how many years the officer worked for the District.

For retirees hired prior to Nov. 10, 1996, the old policy will apply, with dependent coverage reduced to a sliding scale up to 60 percent at 25 years. To align the retiree health benefits plan with the structure of police and fire retirement, employees hired after 1997 will receive maximum retiree health benefits after 25 years of services.

The fiscal impact of this policy change will be incorporated into the FY 2011 budget and FY 2011 to FY 2014 financial plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Headlines link directly to articles:

1030 Immunize our front-line corrections staff, OPSEU tells McGuinty [Toronto ON]

 

1023 Vaccination contre la grippe A (H1N1): les droits du personnel de la santé seront respectés [Montreal QC]

 

1009 H1N1 Expanded call to action for healthcare workers willing to support flu response [Manitoba]

 

1009 H1N1 La FIQ somme le ministre Bolduc de cesser de faire la sourde oreille à la situation non sécuritaire des professionnelles en soins enceintes [Quebec]

 

1009 H1N1 La FIQ exige que les professionnelles en soins enceintes soient retirées de leur milieu de travail [Quebec]

 

1009 Gov Patrick releases $8.1M in first round of stimulus funding to rehire firefighters [Massachusetts]

 

1009 Fenty administration announces revisions to first responders health benefits [Washington DC]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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