By Angela Hill

Salary discussion heats up

Apr 19, 2011 | 6:22 AM

The discussion about salary increases to health region CEOs in Saskatchewan continues to heat up.

The opposition took the government to task during the question period in the legislature Monday, talking about concerns of CEOs making too much and being rewarded for making service cuts.

However, the Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations, who bargains on behalf of the government, says the raises have to do with market parity.

“Our goal really though, bargaining and through all of our discussions, is to pay our employees on a competitive basis,” said Susan Antosh, SAHO president.

The pay-for-performance plan is part of a new out-of-scope compensation plan, she said.

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“The health system is seeking to have market competitive wages for all employees. Where a smaller increase is being proposed it’s because generally … that salary is within range of what you would expect to see,” Antosh said.

“Where there are large increases it’s because we have not been competitive and if you are not competitive you won’t be able to provide services in the community to keep those qualified people there. You’re not going to be able to recruit and retain the talent you are looking for in order to actually transform the health system.”

The comparisons were made across Western Canada, she said.

It resulted in a nearly 60 per cent increase for the CEO of the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

This is something MLA for Prince Albert Northcote, Darcy Furber, has heard a lot about since the new broke.

There have been a number of calls and visits to his office saying that the CEO is being rewarded for cutting services, he said.

“She’s a very competent person, I will say that, but what she is asked to do is wrong.”

According to Antosh, this is not the case.

“No that is not what is being portrayed here,” she said.

While some of the objectives might be around a balanced budget, “it is certainly not that by cutting services the CEO will receive a raise,” Antosh said.

When it comes to the money, CUPE 4777 members would have also benefited from a large increase, said Carol McKnight, local president.

“Who in their right mind has ever heard of a 60 per cent rate increase … what about the people that are providing the hands-on, fundamental care?” she said.

McKnight said for her, it is difficult to see that many dollars put into the system, but not directly into patient care.

“The CEO, I’m not saying she’s not important to the system, but not that kind of dollars should be spent on her wage increase,” she said.

Antosh begs to differ.

If the health regions want to recruit and retain talent, they have to pay the going rate, she said.

See related: Health Region CEO salary compared

Health Region receives increase from budget

ahill@panow.com