Nurses� Union Rejects Jail Contract

Friday, September 01, 2006 04:30 PM

Members of the BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) working in 10 B.C. provincial jail health units have voted to reject a settlement reached with Joye Morris Health Services Inc., which is contracted by the provincial government to provide health care to inmates.

The 220 members of the BCNU employed by Joye Morris include union members working at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre. A spokesperson for the BCNU says it's believed about 25 union members are employed at the Prince George facility.

The members include registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses, social workers, pharmaceutical technicians and clerical staff.

“This vote indicates that health care workers in our provincial jails are not prepared to accept sub-standard contracts from private contractors,” says BCNU President, Debra McPherson. “One of the sore points was the sick leave provision. Our members did not want to see a company making money at the expense of their own health and their ability to have adequate sick leave coverage.”

“I think the vote was a reflection of the general dissatisfaction with labour relations in Joye Morris sites,” says McPherson. “I think people can appreciate that working in jail health units is not easy and a good employee-employer relationship is essential.”

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Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 04:30 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 1 2006 9:25 PM

Debra McPherson. Big deal?

The inmates deserve the best, nothing but the best veterinarians for those animals.

Posted by: thereasonableman on September 1 2006 11:31 PM

How about dressing up the guy in the next cell as a nurse instead ?

Posted by: thereasonableman on September 1 2006 11:34 PM

All these private contractors want to come in and do everything cheaper than the public service, but there is always an expectation that the staff get to absorb the "savings". If you have to cut wages and benefits to do it, then you aren't doing it any cheaper, you're just a rate-cutter.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 2 2006 7:49 AM

Rate-cutter? Or maybe the private contractor doesn't have as much money as the government to through around.

The government has endless amounts of money. How can anyone compete with the government? Employees on the government tit have it made!

One only has to look at the excellent standard of living the government keeps the criminals used to, would a private contractor keep criminals so well fed and happy?

Posted by: Gofaster on September 2 2006 10:23 AM

No,yes, yes and yes, I am sorry to say there Yama. Can't say I agree with it but that is the way or so it seems.

Posted by: owl on September 2 2006 7:15 PM

Just remember, it is private contractors who are providing all those really cheap reports to City Hall.....

And Initiatives PG is a private contractor providing marketing services to the City.

Private contractors are used to doing things cheap .....

;-)

When it comes to inmates, whoever it is that is keeping them has to keep them settled down enough that they do not riot or vandalize.

Besides, the inmates do not get paid, it is the guards who get paid. Less money for the guards = less qualified guards = less safe prisons = more inmate unrest = more costs to use reactive approach than proactive approach.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 2 2006 11:29 PM

Seems the prisoners have it made, or maybe not! If the prisoners formed a union, you know to get better pay and living conditions, they could go on strike.

Now that would really hurt the other unions. The the other unionized workers would only get strike pay as they could not cross the criminal picket line. I bet it could be done.

Posted by: thereasonableman on September 2 2006 11:50 PM

We're not talking about inmates, the nurses just happen to work at a jail. The point of the story was that all of a sudden they are expected to do the same job for less. Does that sound like a great deal ? How many sentences of the story did you read ?

Posted by: trusted on September 3 2006 7:17 AM

thereasonableman!
I never read a single sentence, but your points are well taken and I am sure they are playing "let's make a deal."
Sounds good to me.
But then you are always so reasonable and correctness in your postings certainly takes top priority.
Get well soon!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 3 2006 7:57 AM

Why can't the prisoners form a union? It would be great! Think of the possibilities!

What's the matter don't you support unions? Prisoners live in terrible conditions and are forced to work for low wages, and no days off. They need a decent working mans wage too you know. If the minimum wage was say $20/hr these oppressed brothers and sisters could finally have some money at the end of the day. Whew! This is fun!

Just think of comrade Colby Johnson, the one that stole and wrecked all those cars. He ran away from the work gang because he wasn't getting a decent wage. If colby was in a union he would have some rights and turn to the union to reinstate him.

Don't other county's have unionized prisoners that Canada could copy to moderize our oppressive society? Hee Hee!!

Posted by: thereasonableman on September 5 2006 12:57 AM

toasted!....er, trusted !

You are hereby sentenced to walk down George St. with Yama-man and his unionized escaped convict work crew.
I hope you don't get any dirty looks from people because you don't smoke. Ha ha ha !~