From World Bulletin:
Turkish government cancelled all deal with pharmacists days after nation-wide strike over drug prices.
Turkish Pharmacists Union (TEB) declared that Social Security Organization (SGK), which unilaterally cancelled the medicine provision contract, would be "responsible" for inaccessibility to medicine for people with social security after January 10.
Pharmacists across Turkey, responding to a call by TEB --the sole authority to sign collective medicine provision deals with government-- closed their pharmacies for one day on December 4, in protest of medicine price cuts, despite SGK's warning that it would cancel the deal. ...more
Showing posts with label labour relations. Show all posts
Showing posts with label labour relations. Show all posts
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Pharmacists put their strike on hold
It's a bit late, but here's an update on the Egyptian pharmacist strike...
From the Los Angeles Times:
In a sudden move on Tuesday evening, Egyptian pharmacists decided to suspend their strike during negotiations with the government aimed at reaching a compromise on a new taxation law.
“We received strong promises from top officials that the problem will be solved,” Mahmoud Abdel Maqsoud, secretary-general of the pharmacists’ syndicates told The Times on his way to the Finance Ministry to start a new round of talks. “We don’t mean to torture patients; we deal with a very sensitive commodity so our moves should be well calculated.”
All private pharmacies have abided by their union’s decision to halt the strike, Abdel Maqsoud added. ...more
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Egyptian pharmacists strike against tax law
From the International Herald Tribune:
Pharmacists in privately owned drugstores in Egypt went on strike Monday to protest efforts by authorities to enforce a new tax law, their union said.
The law, adopted in 2005, requires pharmacists to use a new bookkeeping method that includes all merchandise sold in drugstores — not just medicines — in their tax returns. Pharmacies in Egypt sell common toiletries and hair care products as well as pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacists argue that medicines are not a profit-making enterprise and that they should have a lower taxation, different from other goods.
Mohammad Abdel Gawad of the Pharmacists Union said the strike was called after efforts to get a tax exemption failed. He said many of the 45,000 privately owned pharmacies were expected to take part in the open-ended protest. Egyptian pharmacists strike against tax law -
Pharmacists in privately owned drugstores in Egypt went on strike Monday to protest efforts by authorities to enforce a new tax law, their union said.
The law, adopted in 2005, requires pharmacists to use a new bookkeeping method that includes all merchandise sold in drugstores — not just medicines — in their tax returns. Pharmacies in Egypt sell common toiletries and hair care products as well as pharmaceuticals.
Pharmacists argue that medicines are not a profit-making enterprise and that they should have a lower taxation, different from other goods.
Mohammad Abdel Gawad of the Pharmacists Union said the strike was called after efforts to get a tax exemption failed. He said many of the 45,000 privately owned pharmacies were expected to take part in the open-ended protest. Egyptian pharmacists strike against tax law -
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Five Filipino pharmacists dismissed
From Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday:
As the mixing of chemotherapy drugs resumed yesterday at the National Radiotherapy Centre, St James, five Filipino pharmacists were out of work after they were advised by the Health Ministry that their services were “no longer required”.
The termination of contract came after an “industrial relations problem” involving pharmacists at the NRC which resulted in intravenous chemotherapy being halted for scores of persons with cancer.
However, Newsday learnt that the persons whose contracts were terminated did not work at the NRC.
As he left the graduation ceremony for Registered Nurses, Midwives, and Nursing Assistants at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Health Minister Jerry Narace said, “The matter is being resolved, and there are people treating with the pharmacists. A solution has been worked out,” Narace said to reporters. ...more
As the mixing of chemotherapy drugs resumed yesterday at the National Radiotherapy Centre, St James, five Filipino pharmacists were out of work after they were advised by the Health Ministry that their services were “no longer required”.
The termination of contract came after an “industrial relations problem” involving pharmacists at the NRC which resulted in intravenous chemotherapy being halted for scores of persons with cancer.
However, Newsday learnt that the persons whose contracts were terminated did not work at the NRC.
As he left the graduation ceremony for Registered Nurses, Midwives, and Nursing Assistants at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Health Minister Jerry Narace said, “The matter is being resolved, and there are people treating with the pharmacists. A solution has been worked out,” Narace said to reporters. ...more
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
St James chemo patients blanked
From the Trinidad Express:
Chemotherapy patients at the St James Radiotherapy Clinic have been turned away because the pharmacists are not mixing the drugs.
According to the patients, who requested anonymity, clinic officials told them that the pharmacists had not been paid and as a direct result, they refused to do any work.
The patients, however, found this excuse to be ridiculous and called on Health Minister Jerry Narace to intervene.
"The doctors are seeing people, the nurses are seeing people, but yet no one can get therapy," one patient angrily said. ...more
Chemotherapy patients at the St James Radiotherapy Clinic have been turned away because the pharmacists are not mixing the drugs.
According to the patients, who requested anonymity, clinic officials told them that the pharmacists had not been paid and as a direct result, they refused to do any work.
The patients, however, found this excuse to be ridiculous and called on Health Minister Jerry Narace to intervene.
"The doctors are seeing people, the nurses are seeing people, but yet no one can get therapy," one patient angrily said. ...more
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Pharmacy workers reach deal with Rexall
I realize this article is quite old, but somehow I missed the resolution of this dispute, and thought maybe some of you did as well.
From the Edmonton Journal:
A tentative agreement has been reached between Daryl Katz's Rexall pharmacy group and the union representing 30 specialized pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
The agreement was hammered out Sunday morning after an all-night marathon bargaining session and helped avert a pending strike set to start this morning. ...more
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Union Yes?
From the Indianapolis Star:
With their white coats and six-figure salaries, pharmacists might seem like an unlikely group of card-carrying union members.
But around the country, 15,000 pharmacists, or about 6 percent of the U.S. total, belong to the Steelworkers, Teamsters and other unions, joining ranks with blue- collar workers who smelt aluminum, build tires and drive beer trucks.
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Most of the unionized pharmacists work in big industrial markets such as Pittsburgh and Chicago, along with smaller cities, such as Tampa, Fla., and Gary, Ind. No union pharmacists work in Central Indiana, according to the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance, a statewide trade group.
But that could change.
The United Steelworkers union is keeping a close eye on a massive mail-order pharmacy springing up in Boone County. The $150 million distribution center, being built by Medco Health Systems, will cover an area the size of six football fields when it opens next year. It eventually will employ 1,300 people, including hundreds of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who may need help negotiating contracts and addressing grievances. ...more
With their white coats and six-figure salaries, pharmacists might seem like an unlikely group of card-carrying union members.
But around the country, 15,000 pharmacists, or about 6 percent of the U.S. total, belong to the Steelworkers, Teamsters and other unions, joining ranks with blue- collar workers who smelt aluminum, build tires and drive beer trucks.
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Most of the unionized pharmacists work in big industrial markets such as Pittsburgh and Chicago, along with smaller cities, such as Tampa, Fla., and Gary, Ind. No union pharmacists work in Central Indiana, according to the Indiana Pharmacists Alliance, a statewide trade group.
But that could change.
The United Steelworkers union is keeping a close eye on a massive mail-order pharmacy springing up in Boone County. The $150 million distribution center, being built by Medco Health Systems, will cover an area the size of six football fields when it opens next year. It eventually will employ 1,300 people, including hundreds of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who may need help negotiating contracts and addressing grievances. ...more
Teaching boycott planned
From the Montreal Gazette:
Quebec pharmacists frustrated by a serious staffing shortage held a special meeting yesterday to vote on a series of pressure tactics they promise will not affect patients.
The shortage is expected to worsen, which means patients will suffer, warned Linda Vaillant, executive director of the Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec.
"We may not be able to give chemotherapy to patients and we don't want to get there," Vaillant said.
About 1,200 pharmacists work in Quebec hospitals and other health-care establishments. But hospitals need another 200 pharmacists to properly serve patients, Vaillant said.
Hospital pharmacists regularly work 45-hour weeks, often covering 12 days in a row, she said.
"The pharmacist is like the goalie in hockey. He has to make sure to stop the puck, to catch the error, the drug interactions, and adjust the dose. There's potential for increased medical error because of the intensity of the workload," she said. ...more
Quebec pharmacists frustrated by a serious staffing shortage held a special meeting yesterday to vote on a series of pressure tactics they promise will not affect patients.
The shortage is expected to worsen, which means patients will suffer, warned Linda Vaillant, executive director of the Association des pharmaciens des établissements de santé du Québec.
"We may not be able to give chemotherapy to patients and we don't want to get there," Vaillant said.
About 1,200 pharmacists work in Quebec hospitals and other health-care establishments. But hospitals need another 200 pharmacists to properly serve patients, Vaillant said.
Hospital pharmacists regularly work 45-hour weeks, often covering 12 days in a row, she said.
"The pharmacist is like the goalie in hockey. He has to make sure to stop the puck, to catch the error, the drug interactions, and adjust the dose. There's potential for increased medical error because of the intensity of the workload," she said. ...more
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Pharmacists face Rexall lockout
From the Edmonton Sun:
A potential move by Rexall that would see dozens of highly specialized pharmacists locked out could have negative impacts on the patients they serve, some terminally ill, one expert says.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta, the organization representing the workers, says the pharmacy giant has applied to the Labour Relations Board to lock out pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working at outpatient pharmacies at the U of A and Royal Alexandra hospitals, following a breakdown in contract negotiations.
Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA president, says pharmacists working for Rexall have historically been paid on par with their counterparts working for the provincial health board.
However, things turned sour when the non-Rexall employees got a significant pay increase, which Rexall is not prepared to match.
"The message was pretty blunt at the bargaining table that Rexall doesn't feel that they're making enough of a profit. They are, in fact, making a profit, they just don't think they're making a big enough profit," Ballermann said, adding the gap will be in the neighbourhood of $8,000 over two years for workers. ...more
A potential move by Rexall that would see dozens of highly specialized pharmacists locked out could have negative impacts on the patients they serve, some terminally ill, one expert says.
The Health Sciences Association of Alberta, the organization representing the workers, says the pharmacy giant has applied to the Labour Relations Board to lock out pharmacists and pharmacy technicians working at outpatient pharmacies at the U of A and Royal Alexandra hospitals, following a breakdown in contract negotiations.
Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA president, says pharmacists working for Rexall have historically been paid on par with their counterparts working for the provincial health board.
However, things turned sour when the non-Rexall employees got a significant pay increase, which Rexall is not prepared to match.
"The message was pretty blunt at the bargaining table that Rexall doesn't feel that they're making enough of a profit. They are, in fact, making a profit, they just don't think they're making a big enough profit," Ballermann said, adding the gap will be in the neighbourhood of $8,000 over two years for workers. ...more
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Premier backs deal giving health professionals money to stay in Saskatchewan
From CBC News:
Saskatchewan's premier is backing a tentative contract agreement that gives experienced health professionals more money to stay in the province.
Premier Lorne Calvert says the demand for health professionals is high across Canada and that retention money will help keep senior workers in the province's health system. Calvert says the workers, who include paramedics and hospital pharmacists, are sought after by other jurisdictions.
The tentative agreement, reached overnight, gives a 2.5 per cent retention adjustment for health professionals with more than five years of experience. ...more
Saskatchewan's premier is backing a tentative contract agreement that gives experienced health professionals more money to stay in the province.
Premier Lorne Calvert says the demand for health professionals is high across Canada and that retention money will help keep senior workers in the province's health system. Calvert says the workers, who include paramedics and hospital pharmacists, are sought after by other jurisdictions.
The tentative agreement, reached overnight, gives a 2.5 per cent retention adjustment for health professionals with more than five years of experience. ...more
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Health workers, employer taking 2-day break after weekend talks go nowhere
From Canada East:
Striking Saskatchewan health workers and their employer are taking a break in talks.
The union representing the 2,700 workers and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations met with a conciliator on the weekend. But officials emerged Sunday to say they will restart talks in Regina on Tuesday.
Twenty-eight members have been on strike since July 2, and the union has promised that no more will go off the job while talks are underway. ...more
Striking Saskatchewan health workers and their employer are taking a break in talks.
The union representing the 2,700 workers and the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations met with a conciliator on the weekend. But officials emerged Sunday to say they will restart talks in Regina on Tuesday.
Twenty-eight members have been on strike since July 2, and the union has promised that no more will go off the job while talks are underway. ...more
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Sask. health workers begin strike action
From the Globe and Mail:
More than two dozen health professionals across Saskatchewan went on strike Tuesday, but an agreement has been reached to keep job action from escalating.
The respiratory therapists, hospital pharmacists and others walked out in six health regions, including Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
Chris Driol, president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, said the union chose to pull only 27 of its 2,700 members off the job as a sign of good faith.
“We also demonstrate it as a signal to the employer to make us a better offer and resolve this situation,” Mr. Driol said at a news conference in Saskatoon. ...more
More than two dozen health professionals across Saskatchewan went on strike Tuesday, but an agreement has been reached to keep job action from escalating.
The respiratory therapists, hospital pharmacists and others walked out in six health regions, including Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert.
Chris Driol, president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, said the union chose to pull only 27 of its 2,700 members off the job as a sign of good faith.
“We also demonstrate it as a signal to the employer to make us a better offer and resolve this situation,” Mr. Driol said at a news conference in Saskatoon. ...more
Monday, July 02, 2007
‘Miracle’ needed to avoiding Saskatchewan health strike
From the Saskatoon Star Phoenix:
It would take “a miracle,” to avoid a strike by 2,700 health workers across Saskatchewan Tuesday, according to their union.
Bargaining officials from the union and the province’s health regions failed to meet, let alone reach an agreement, over the Canada Day long weekend.
Chris Driol, president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, said Monday afternoon that “unless a miracle happens in the next 15 hours,” at least some professionals will walk off the job this morning.
It’s feared a walkout could cripple Saskatchewan’s health system, halting all non-emergency surgeries and impacting the dispensing of drugs in hospitals and long-term care homes. ...more
It would take “a miracle,” to avoid a strike by 2,700 health workers across Saskatchewan Tuesday, according to their union.
Bargaining officials from the union and the province’s health regions failed to meet, let alone reach an agreement, over the Canada Day long weekend.
Chris Driol, president of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan, said Monday afternoon that “unless a miracle happens in the next 15 hours,” at least some professionals will walk off the job this morning.
It’s feared a walkout could cripple Saskatchewan’s health system, halting all non-emergency surgeries and impacting the dispensing of drugs in hospitals and long-term care homes. ...more
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Sask. health workers prepared to walk off job
From CTV News:
Health professionals in Saskatchewan are staying on the job for now, but their union warns that a walkout will be inevitable Tuesday unless a deal is reached.
Union officials met today in Saskatoon to decide what action to take after contract talks broke down. Chris Driol of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan says the 2,700 members will work through the holiday weekend in case there are any emergencies. ...more
Health professionals in Saskatchewan are staying on the job for now, but their union warns that a walkout will be inevitable Tuesday unless a deal is reached.
Union officials met today in Saskatoon to decide what action to take after contract talks broke down. Chris Driol of the Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan says the 2,700 members will work through the holiday weekend in case there are any emergencies. ...more
Friday, June 29, 2007
Union for Sask health workers says job action coming after talks break down
From Canoe.ca:
Talks to avert a strike by health-care professionals in Saskatchewan broke off Thursday, but the rhetoric was heating up as union officials said they have no choice but to start job action.
The negotiations after a conciliator said the health organizations and the Health Sciences Association were too far apart to reach a deal. "At this time it seems that there's no further point in the two parties meeting," said association president Chris Driol.
"We really have no choice at this point but to engage in job action because our best efforts at the negotiating table haven't got us where we need to go."
One of the biggest sticking points was over money aimed at enticing experienced workers to stay in the province and not flee to other jurisdictions for more cash.
The union is looking for eight per cent over two years and it wants an additional four per cent retention money for senior staff.
The Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations has offered 12 per cent over three years, with an additional half per cent retention adjustment for all workers in the first year. ...more
Talks to avert a strike by health-care professionals in Saskatchewan broke off Thursday, but the rhetoric was heating up as union officials said they have no choice but to start job action.
The negotiations after a conciliator said the health organizations and the Health Sciences Association were too far apart to reach a deal. "At this time it seems that there's no further point in the two parties meeting," said association president Chris Driol.
"We really have no choice at this point but to engage in job action because our best efforts at the negotiating table haven't got us where we need to go."
One of the biggest sticking points was over money aimed at enticing experienced workers to stay in the province and not flee to other jurisdictions for more cash.
The union is looking for eight per cent over two years and it wants an additional four per cent retention money for senior staff.
The Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations has offered 12 per cent over three years, with an additional half per cent retention adjustment for all workers in the first year. ...more
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Sask. health-care workers announce strike mandate
It sounds like hospital pharmacists in Saskatchewan may soon be on strike.
From CBC News:
The union for 2,700 health-care professionals in Saskatchewan has been given a strike mandate by its members.
The Health Sciences Association of Saskatchewan says money, recruitment and retention are the main issues.
"This has been an extremely discouraging round of provincial negotiations," said union president Chris Driol. "Until we decided to talk to our members about a strike vote the employer flatly refused to discuss our issues." ...more
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