Union: “Health care workers are exhausted, and NLHS still wants more.”

St. John’s, NL--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, unions gathered with Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, government representatives, and representatives from Deloitte, to hear the results of the Core Staffing Review carried out over the last year.

“While some of the recommendations like creating a mentorship program and improved onboarding would benefit health care as a whole, we are deeply concerned by the suggestions to expand duties without appropriate compensation or acknowledgment of how burnout causes attendance issues,” said CUPE Newfoundland and Labrador President Sherry Hillier.

The report has not been fully released, but an overview of recommendations was provided this morning. CUPE is waiting for the full report for a more fulsome comment, but sections on expanded duties are specifically concerning as they are targeted at workers who are already stretched thin.

“For years, health care workers have been sounding the alarm. They are burnt out, exhausted, and leaving the field. More duties, isn’t going to solve the issues in health care,” explained Hillier, “because health care workers are not a burden on the system; they are the thing keeping it running,” finished Hillier.