Nurse bonuses go out this month, but casual workers, some licensed practical nurses not eligible
Total cost of payments is $83 million, $9-million higher than Liberals estimated during election campaign
Retention bonuses for nurses will arrive before the end of the year, but not everyone will be eligible.
Premier Susan Holt has announced the $10,000 payments promised on the campaign trail will be sent to 9,950 nurses before the year's end.
"One of the reasons why we made a commitment during the election was that we need to retain and care for every caregiver in this province and particularly the nurses that are on the front lines of the crisis that we've been experiencing," Holt said at a virtual question and answer session with New Brunswick Nurses Union president Paula Doucet and Health Minister Dr. John Dornan, on Tuesday.
"We can't recruit in when we don't have a staff that is feeling respected and valued by their employer, so we thought that issuing a retention payment immediately would signal that value for the work and our request that you stick with us for the next two years as we try to improve working conditions."
All permanent registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, nurse managers and supervisors, working in both regional health authorities and with Ambulance New Brunswick and Extra-Mural, are eligible.
Permanent part-time employees will receive a bonus pro-rated to their average hours over the last 12 months.
Nurses represented by the New Brunswick Nurses Union and licensed practical nurses represented by the New Brunswick Union working in long-term care homes will also receive the payments.
Not all CUPE employees eligible
However, licensed practical nurses represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees will not be eligible.
According to Holt, CUPE has refused to sign a letter of agreement on the bonuses over their opposition to Bill 17, or the Pension Plan Sustainability and Transfer Act.
That legislation transferred several locals represented by CUPE from a defined benefit pension to the shared risk model used by the rest of the civil service.
Holt said she is committed to repealing the legislation and working with CUPE to ensure the licensed practical nurses they represent receive the bonuses eventually.
A spokesperson for CUPE New Brunswick said the union has been waiting for a commitment to repeal the legalisation before negotiating any agreements with the government.
"We are eagerly awaiting a formal written statement from the government so we can proceed with the signature of the LPN retention bonuses," Simon Oullette said in an email.
Casual workers will also not receive the bonuses, but Holt reiterated that anyone accepting a permanent position next year will be eligible.
Paula Doucet, president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, appeared alongside Holt and Health Minister Dr. John Dornan for the Tuesday session, which was shared by the government on its X account.
Paula
Doucet, president of the New Brunswick Nurses Union, thanked Holt for
holding the session with nurses, calling it 'refreshing.' (CBC)
Doucet thanked Holt for holding the session with nurses, calling it "refreshing."
"There is a collaborative relationship that is being built here to really tackle the issues that nurses have brought forward over many years. Like you said, this will not get solved overnight."
The total cost of the payments is $83 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, $9-million higher than the Liberal campaign estimate had pegged the cost.
Eligible nurses will also receive an additional $5,000 payment next year at an estimated cost of $32 million.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
David Amos
"However, licensed practical nurses represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees will not be eligible.
According to Holt, CUPE has refused to sign a letter of agreement on the bonuses over their opposition to Bill 17, or the Pension Plan Sustainability and Transfer Act.
That legislation transferred several locals represented by CUPE from a defined benefit pension to the shared risk model used by the rest of the civil service."
Therein lies the rub
Akimbo Alogo
More money, less work. Same old union kool aid. The unions holding this province (and the taxpayers) hostage are truly vile.
David Amos
Reply to Akimbo Alogo
Yup
valmond landry
it's a good bonus plus tax free i suppose, opening the door to other groups,example teachers ,doctors, and so on they'll be no end to that. will their be any bonus for people that have a hard time to pay their rent and have to send their kids to school with very little to eat. and not dress properly for winter . i know that working in an environment such as a seniors home or hospital is demanding however if your making 100 .000 plus retention and not forgetting the 250$ from the federal is quite a bit .
Errol Willis
Reply to valmond landry
The old NB attitude that 100K for a professional job is a lot of money.
Regardless, there are many more not making 100k than the few that are. Don't forget the huge number of LPNs that are included in this - none of which make that salary.
Also - it is not tax free.
David Amos
Reply to valmond landry
What about all the non unionized folks working in seniors home?
valmond landry
Reply to David Amos
yup,
Steve Morningstar
People on this site were losing their minds when Higgs was off by 1-2% over an entire fiscal year... now that the liberals are in they are off by over 10% in just a month its all 'ok'. . not to Mention this is the only promise that she has followed through on. the 4.2 gas removal is just get rid of the EUB (which doesn't really remove it) and i still haven't seen anything on when the HST is coming off electricity. With how things are going it wont shock me if she says they can't afford it..
Deborah Reddon
Reply to Steve Morningstar
Higgs & Co was never off by 1-2%, he was off by millions and millions. Perhaps you've forgotten that the first day in office the Liberals amended bills so that women can receive essential healthcare outside of the 3 hospitals. Finally, women in NB are treated like those in other provinces and territories of Canada rather than like 3rd world female populations.
Ronald Miller
Reply to Deborah Reddon
Not essential healthcare, a single healthcare procedure, big difference.
David Amos
I trust that you know about Me Versus the EUB and one brand Cabinet Minister
Steve Morningstar
Reply to Deborah Reddon
The budgets would of had to been off by over 1.3 BILLION to get to the same level of miss calculation as what this is.. Not to mention the amount of fluctuation in the economy the last few years makes it difficult. This was just a payment to nurses which should have been super easy to calculate.
David Amos
I trust that you know why I ran Quispamsis
Just as a passing thought, I wonder whatever happened to the Oath that I believe doctors and nurses promise to follow on entering their chosen field?
MR Cain
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
The Hippocratic Oath? “I swear by Apollo the physician, and Asclepius the surgeon, likewise Hygeia and Panacea, and call all the gods and goddesses to witness, that I will observe and keep this underwritten oath, to the utmost of my power and judgment. I will reverence my master who taught me the art." fill your boots.
MR Cain
Reply to MR Cain
The Hippocratic Oath is not legally binding in Canada and is no longer a part of the graduation ceremony for most Canadian medical school graduates. Instead, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) has a code of ethics that governs the relationship between physicians and patients, other physicians, and society.
Lou Bell
Reply to Ralph Skavinsky
Changed . Now it's about bonuses .
Deborah Reddon
Reply to Lou Bell
No, now it's about treating a group of workers who have been kicked down by the Higgs government with the respect they deserve.
David Amos
Do you refer to the Oath of hypocrites that has the words "First Do No Harm" or 'Primum Non Nocere"???
Methinks somebody else had strong opinions about such sheople N'esy Pas?
For example
Matthew 23:25- 27-28
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