The provincial government has announced recruitment and retention measures for two more unions representing front-line health care workers.

Health Minister Tom Osborne joined CUPE President Sherry Hillier and President of the Association of Allied Health Professionals, Gordon Piercey at Confederation Building to outline the measures this morning.

Osborne says the initiatives include retention bonuses, reimbursement of licensing fees for applicable retired health care professionals and double rate overtime from now until the end of January to help fill schedules.

Hillier with CUPE thanks government for taking the initiative, but says it doesn’t go far enough. She says it will help their members, however, including licenced practical nurses, personal care attendants and paramedics.

Gordon Piercey of the AAHP says this is welcome news on Genetic Counsellor Awareness Day.

He says in a discipline like that with only ten counselling positions in the province, the recent loss of two people represents a 20 per cent reduction in staff. He calls today’s announcement “a good start.”