OPSEU upset with layoffs at Grey Bruce Health Unit
By Lynda Cooper, The Coast FM Radio
 

Health & Fitness

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The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) is denouncing the layoff of two of its members at the Grey Bruce Health Unit. Two tobacco youth advisors are being laid off, effective tomorrow (Dec. 23).

"This is another example of money being poured in at the top end while services are being cut on the front line," said Ted Loughead, OPSEU staff representative. "The recent raise in pay taken by the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Hazel Lynn, would easily cover the salaries of these two positions for a whole year. How can the board of health justify this ...?"
Lynn said her pay raise was at the urging of the Ontario Medical Association and will be paid by the province; it is not coming out of the health unit's budget. She said the pay hike puts all medical officers of health on the same pay scale as other health professionals and doctors.

She has applied for funding for more youth advisors and the province is now putting together a new youth program. She said the health unit likely won't hear anything new on that until the spring. In the meantime, she said, the health unit budget is so tight it cannot afford to maintain the youth advisor positions without the grants.
 

Lynn said Loughead has not contacted her or any health unit staff to talk about his concerns. She said he is welcome to come in and take a look at the health unit books anytime.

Kincardine mayor Larry Kraemer, Bruce County representative on the health board, echoed Lynn's statement that the raise in her pay will not affect the health unit budget or operations.

"The provincial government determined that the medical officers of health were underpaid compared to their colleagues in private practice," he said. "If we want to keep them, we must increase the remuneration. From the perspective of the board of health, there was no reason not to give Dr. Lynn the raise. She is extremely valuable to the Grey Bruce Health Unit. It would be difficult to operate the board of health without someone of her skill."

He said he told Lynn that if she decided not to continue as the medical officer of health and wanted to return to private practice, there would be a substantial bonus for her to come to Kincardine. "That's how competitive it is for Dr. Lynn," he said. "She could make a lot more money than what she makes as a medical officer of health."

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Tuesday, December 22, 2009