PSA scoffs at CPO’s offer for pharmacists

The salary proposal for Pharmacists I, advanced by the office of the Chief Personnel Officer, has been found wanting by the Public Services Association (PSA) because it falls below the range currently paid to pharmacists on the same level in the regional health authorities. The PSA and CPO began discussions a month ago on a proposal for reclassification of pharmacists in the Public Service. The first request for reclassification was made in March 1974. PSA first vice president Stephen Thomas told Newsday that “nothing positive came out” of yesterday’s meeting with the acting director of classification in the CPO’s office. He said a starting salary of $5,500 was proposed for Pharmacists I — entry level. Thomas said the union objected because the CPO gave guidance to all public authorities, including the regional health authorities, that the starting salary for pharmacists was $6,166.

He questioned the disparity since pharmacists of the same range in the Public Service and RHAs did the same job. Thomas said for the RHAs to offer the higher salary, they would have gone through the process of going to the ministry, which would then seek the advice of the CPO. “The same CPO would have given the range offered.” He said the position adopted by the CPO was “indefensible” and “vexatious.” Thomas said the salary being requested by the union was not even the market rate, noting that in the private sector pharmacists earn between $8,000-$10,000. He linked the departure of nine pharmacists from the public health sector to “total dissatisfaction with the pay package. There is already a short supply in the public system.” Pharmacists took nationwide protest action in September and October this year to get reclassification, remuneration and other outstanding terms and conditions of work resolved.