Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Dent.
Debates of March 8th, 2007
This is page numbers 1335 - 1380 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was work.
Topics
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I understand that some employees appealed and others did not.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Sandy Lee Range Lake
What steps were taken to make sure that everybody was aware of the fact that they had the right to appeal?
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Every employee is given notice of how to appeal a job evaluation and on appeals we have a process that's been agreed to with the union and that is the process that is followed.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1369
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate that there may be answers to this procedurally, but in practice and in the outcome in terms of employees' morale, these are the things that really impact the working environment and this is when people feel that they're not being treated equally and they're being punished on a procedural error. Now I seem to recall, if my memory serves me correctly, I recall that there were situations at the North Slave Correctional Centre where the correctional officers' positions were reclassified and a lot of them had to go through the appeal process and there were some who did not meet the appeal time, but in the end I think they were all compensated. It could be another section, I can't remember, I'm sorry; I just know that we have dealt with this situation before. I seem to remember it was at the North Slave Correctional Centre, but I could be wrong. But there were a whole group of employees whose jobs were reclassified and I think it was with the jail because I remember meeting with them and I think we were able to settle that. So I would like to ask the Minister if he could commit to looking to see if there are any ways we could find a way to resolve this, because I would think, in the end, dollar amounts aren't that significant, but that the impact on the morale is quite severe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'll certainly take Ms. Lee's advice and look into the situation and see whether or not there are similarities between the situation to which she has referred and the one with the nurses.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Sandy Lee Range Lake
Thank you. I appreciate that answer and could I just ask the Minister to commit to giving the answers to me as soon as possible in writing as a Member? Thank you.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to pick up where Ms. Lee left off with this. First of all I want to ask what involvement the Department of Human Resources has had with the reclassification of the positions, the pay plan re-evaluation of positions at Stanton and, if the Minister knows, what, arguably, Mr. Chairman, is one of the worst decisions the government has made, ever? I mean it was a bad decision at the time and I want to know how much money it has cost this government to do that. Thank you.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The changes, I'm advised, came about because it was requested by nurses and by the union. So the government responded to that request and clearly some of the employees weren't happy with the change. The government acted in good faith on a request from the union and now we're hearing from some nurses that that isn't what they're happy with.
In terms of the Member's first question, whenever there is an appeal for reclassification, it goes to an interdepartmental committee. The Department of Human Resources has one person of three on that committee.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What assistance is provided to groups of employees requesting to appeal those types of decisions? Thank you.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Charles Dent Frame Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That sort of assistance should, and does, come from their union.
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370
David Ramsay Kam Lake
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman. So that assistance doesn't come from HR, is that what the Minister is telling me? If the union doesn't help the group of employees, they're left basically on their own to appeal the decision, is that correct?
Committee Motion 50-15(5): Implementation Of The Third-party Accountability Framework, Carried
Item 16: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1370