December 5, 2001

Flexing Until Something Breaks

Will Deputy Ministers be expected to show flexibility and return their 35% pay increases? Perhaps they could be flexible and change the outrageous severance terms in their contracts where five months pay for one deputy equaled ten years pay for a nurse!

When calling for more union "flexibility", the example Health Minister Collin Hansen has repeatedly given involves moving nurses from one emergency room to another.

The "collective agreement" with the nurses was imposed as the Campbell government resorted to legislation. Government is now looking at all collective agreements as it contemplates legislative interference with existing contracts, but from Hansen's example it would appear that they cannot get it right even when they use legislation.

How far will workers have to bend to please these masters, and how many times will they have to try to get it right?