Operators handling 811 Telehealth calls deserve a raise, the union says
The union representing workers who operate Nova Scotia’s telehealth system is urging the provincial government to immediately open members’ contracts to provide fair wages to 811 operators.
“If (Prime Minister) Tim Houston is going to tell 148,000 Nova Scotians without a primary care physician to call 811 if they need medical care, at least he needs to make sure the service is adequately funded so that the service can be run reliably,” Sandra Mullen, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU), said in a press release.
Nova Scotians can access health information and advice by calling 811.
There are currently 18 Telehealth employees employed by Emergency Medical Care Inc., and they are the first point of contact for members of the public seeking medical advice 24 hours a day.
The Telehealth employees collect information to determine whether the call should go to the nurses or, in an emergency, immediately transfer to 911. They also help get people on the doctor’s waiting list.
“The service they provide is now an integral part of our health care system, but unfortunately these workers are currently earning between $17.05 and $18.44 an hour – which is well below what is considered a living wage in Nova Scotia – and eight dollars per hour. hours less than people doing comparable work for 311,” Mullen said.
The staff shortage is so acute that workers must be required to work overtime, leading to fatigue and burnout and endangering services, the union says.
The union says Telehealth employees are among the lowest paid healthcare workers in Canada, making it nearly impossible to retain staff.
The starting wage for operators doing similar work for HRM’s 311 service, which provides information on everything from property taxes to pet services, by-law complaints, garbage collection and transportation schedules, is $26.90 per hour.
A living wage in Halifax, where the 811 operators are located, is considered to be $23.50 per hour.
NSGEU is calling on government officials to immediately reopen the members’ current contract, which was negotiated in 2018 and does not expire until 2024, to address low wages in the face of unprecedented inflationary pressures.
