The NLMA says it will not return to the negotiating table, unless government “gets serious” about recruitment and retention.
President Dr. Susan MacDonald says provincial physicians have been without a contract for more than four years and while negotiations began ten months ago, no substantial proposals were made by government.
She says physicians sent a resounding message during a recent member poll that negotiations must result in bold solutions, “not just more of the status quo.”
“Our message to government today” says MacDonald, “is that it must make meaningful improvements in its proposal to the NLMA before negotiations can resume.”
If not, says MacDonald, the NLMA will conduct a formal vote November 4th to accept, or reject, government’s offer.
Photo via NLMA
What that means if the offer is rejected, Dr. MacDonald isn’t saying right now.
She says they can be “quite creative” about the options they can use to encourage government to take them seriously.
(File photo.)
Finance Minister Coady Responds
Finance Minister and President of Treasury Board Siobhan Coady encourages the NLMA to come back to the negotiation table to discuss the matters raised.
She says they’re prepared to sit back down with the NLMA at any moment.
She told reporters today that government understands and is prepared to addressed challenges faced by the Fee for Service family physicians.
She says the best she can say at this point is that government will await the NLMA’s response to their proposals made on September 29th.
