The Union of 黑料吃瓜网 Workers (UNW) is pushing back against the NWT Health and Social Services Authority鈥檚 (NTHSSA) plan to leave vacant positions unfilled.
The health authority's public administrator, Dan Florizone, said hiring attrition is part of a strategy to help reduce its current $36 million deficit. He said he鈥檚 been looking at not filling vacancies in administration and in roles that do not provide direct patient care or health services.
Asked if he鈥檚 discussed this with the union, Florizone told 黑料吃瓜网 that 鈥渢he union continues to be involved in the work of seeking these efficiencies.鈥�
On June 5, UNW President Gayla Thunstrom issued a statement to 黑料吃瓜网 blasting Florizone鈥檚 plan.
"Reducing positions to balance a budget makes for a treacherous path for workers, especially in healthcare, and will further erode a system that is already desperately struggling to provide services," she wrote.
Thunstrom also said she鈥檚 heard that nurses, lab technicians, therapists, and other practitioners are losing time that could be spent with patients because they鈥檙e taking on more administrative duties to cover vacancies.
"Cutting these positions rather than filling them will lead to fewer appointments and longer wait times. In fact, administrative positions should be properly filled and even increased [to] relieve pressure on other healthcare professionals," said Thunstrom.
Adrienne Cartwright, communications officer for the UNW, also told 黑料吃瓜网 that neither the UNW president nor any member of the UNW executive has been contacted by Florizone about hiring attrition within the NTHSSA.
According to Krystal Pidborochynski, communications director for NTHSSA, Florizone was responding to the question if he has ever met with the union, though that is not what 黑料吃瓜网 asked him.
"When he indicated the union has been involved, it was based on his discussions with UNW Local 11 - North Great Slave Region," said Pidborochynski.
The health authority also has no comment in response to Thunstrom's critiques about hiring attrition.
