Manuel's Blog

Knowing what to look for is important, so people can get support to help them better understand themselves and meet their full potential. Image: Tess Emily Seymour Knowing what to look for is important, so people can get support to help them better understand themselves and meet their full potential. Image: Tess  Emily Seymour #ADHD #adult #symptoms Read the full article

Image: Laura James With 10,000 healthcare workers already off the job amid the sixth wave of pandemic infections, the McGill University Healthcare Centre (MUHC) resolved to prohibit all staff in-person meetings and gatherings. This Monday at noon, the medical centre's President and Executive Officer, Dr. Pierre Gfeller, will update the MUHC's standing via a special Covid-19 webinar. #6thWave #BA2 #Covid19 #HealthcareWorkers #muhc Read the full article

As a unionized employee, you have the "Right To Be Accompanied", to have union representation present at any meeting with your employer, resulting in discipline, including fact-finding and all disciplinary meetings. #DisciplinaryMeeting #YourRights Read the full article

Recent research, including a publThe C.D.C. also affirmed there is no need to quarantine at home following high-risk exposures for workers who have received all required vaccine doses, including boosters.  Photo Luis Melendez / Unsplash #HealthcareWorkers #isolation #omicron Read the full article

Hospital executives who have hired Litvak describe him as a genius and a pioneer in improving hospital operations management. Photo IHO Eugene Litvak. #CanadianLives #Covid19 #EugeneLitvak #SurgeryWaitTimes Read the full article

According to Professor Barry Schoub, a South African virologist who advises the country's government, Omicron cases have tended to be "mild to moderate," Still, Schoub emphasizes, because the virus is still in its early stages, "we have to wait and see." https://twitter.com/RidgeOnSunday/status/1464901101803687938The head of the intensive care unit at a hospital in Soweto, South Africa, Dr. Rudo Mathivha, highlighted that severe cases have been centered on people who were not fully vaccinated. There is no doubt about Omicron's uncertainty. Perhaps the virus will turn out to be worse than the early warning signs suggest, but assuming the worst about each new variant is neither accurate nor sensible. "Some of today's headlines/commentary re. new variant are really not helping people's (already fragile) mental health)," As Dr. Raghib Ali, an epidemiologist at the University of Cambridge wrote. "Of course we should take it seriously, but there is no plausible scenario that this variant is going to take us back to square one (ie. the situation pre-vaccines). Dr. Ali added.https://twitter.com/drraghibali/status/1464208883656892417 Read the full article

The virus, known scientifically as B.1.1.529, has a "very unusual constellation" of over 30 mutations. Of these mutations 10 are in the spike protein, allowing the virus to evade the body's immune system more quickly and thus becoming more transmissible. In comparison the Beta variant has three, and the Delta variant two. Leading the W.H.O. to state in its official description. “Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other” variants. Scientists are unsure how effective existing vaccines will be against the variant due to mutations that could render it immune to neutralization. So far, twenty-two cases of the new virus variant have been identified, two of which have occurred in Hong Kong. Read the full article

Photo Anna Shvets / PexelsAt the South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases, scientists identified a coronavirus mutation that one scientist described as a "big jump in evolution".Within hours of the announcement, Israel, Singapore, and the United Kingdom imposed travel restrictions from Southern Africa. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, also announced the EU will propose limiting air travel to union countries from the area due to concerns regarding the new variant.Referred to by its scientific name, B.1.1.529, the virus contains a "very unusual constellation" of over 30 mutations. Ten of the mutations are in the spike protein alone, allowing the virus to evade the body's immunity system more quickly, making it more transmissible. At the same time, the Beta variant has three, and the Delta variant has two.Scientists are unsure how effective existing vaccines will be against the variant due to mutations that may make it resistant to neutralization. So far, twenty-two cases of the new virus variant have been identified, with two of them occurring in Hong Kong."All these things are what give us some concern that this variant might have not just enhanced transmissibility, so spread more efficiently, but might also be able to get around parts of the immune system and the protection we have in our immune system," Richard Lessells, an infectious diseases specialist at the KwaZulu-Natal Research and Innovation Sequencing Platform, told the N.Y. Times.While cases of the new variant are primarily concentrated in the country's capital, Pretoria, according to experts, it's only a matter of time before the virus reaches the rest of the country.On Friday, South African scientists will meet with the World Health Organization technical team to discuss the new variant, which will be assigned a letter of the Greek alphabet. Read the full article

The decision follows a ruling by Spain's top court earlier this year that declared as unconstitutional the country's first state of emergency. Photo: Kaique Rocha / Pexels #covid #LockDown #spain Read the full article

Image: SmartiCo / PixabayA Brazilian congressional panel investigating the country's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is set to recommend mass homicide charges... Image: SmartiCo / Pixabay  #bolsonaro #brazil #covid #report Read the full article

Photo Porapak Apichodilok / PexelsThe recent declines are consistent with the viruses mysterious two-month cycle which have frequently spiked for two months and then declined for two months. #coronavirus #covid #cycle Read the full article

Federal regulators emphasized that the vaccine's benefits still outweighed the risk of catching the neurological disease. (Photo: RF._.studio / Pexels) The United States Food and Drug Administration (F.D.A.) officials identified approximately 100 cases among the nearly 13 million vaccine recipients in the U.S. of a rare Nerve condition known as Guillain-Barré syndrome. Regulators have determined that the chances of developing the condition are minimal, they occur three to five times higher among Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients than among the general population in the United States. Officials strongly emphasize that the vaccine's benefits still outweighed the risk of catching the neurological disease. Guillain-Barre syndrome is described on the Mayo Clinic's website as a rare disorder in which your body's immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities are usually the first symptoms. Sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing your whole body. In its most severe form, Guillain-Barre syndrome is a medical emergency. Most people with the condition must be hospitalized to receive treatment. In April, the F.D.A. warned about an increased risk of blood clots associated with low platelets concerning the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Read the full article

(Photo: Natalia Ovchinnikova / Pexels) Opinion The Quebec government agrees with labour organizations that most of you, the provinces' lower-wage healthcare workers deserve an exceptional catch-up pay increase, but just not right now. In fact, workers won't see a cent of catchup pay before the last year of the agreement in principle. Unions appear to be satisfied with the deal; the majority cancelled their strikes. In the meantime, the underpaid and, most often, overworked labourers continue to be exploited until the very last minute the contract will allow. Both sides should now agree to pay the workers the money today, not in 2022, for the simple reason they agreed on - They're underpaid! For the record and to reply to the false rumor. I support organized labour. It was the initial foundation for the middle class, and I believe it will, in the long term, if properly led will help to save the middle class. Read the full article

Between 2019 and 2020, ISQ reported the gap in overall compensation rose over three percent from 6.1% to 9.2%, to the detriment of public service employees. (Photo: SHVETS production / Pexels) In November 2020, the Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) Rémunération des salariés – État et évolution comparés figures show a dangerous increase in the wage gap between workers employed in the Québec public service and Québec employees in the private sector. The ISQ compares a yearly salary and total compensation of Québec government employees with employees working in businesses with 200 or more employees in Québec. Between 2019 and 2020, ISQ reported the gap in overall compensation rose over three percent from 6.1% to 9.2%, to the detriment of public service employees. The timeline is also the final year of Quebec's healthcare workers' 2016-2020 national collective contract, which included a pay rate freeze for 2019. Did the ISQ consider the hundreds of dollars in annual parking fees, union dues, along with thousands of dollars in insurance premiums paid by healthcare workers? Montreal General Hospital CSN union representative Kathleen De Melo However, according to the ISQ report, when total compensation includes salaries, non-wage benefits, and hours at work, Québec government employees are on par with the private sector regarding total compensation.  According to Montreal General Hospital CSN union representative Kathleen De Melo, the extras are appreciated, but the perks don't add purchasing power. "The extras don't help to pay the rent or put food on the table," said De Melo.  This past June, the FSSS-CSN, Quebec's largest union organization in the health and social services and child care network, agreed in principle with the government to a 2% pay rate increase for 2020. Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) president Andrée Poirier was more blunt. "It's revolting," says Poirier. "Year after year, the government has been knowingly acting in a way that has made our members poorer." "The extras are nice, but did the ISQ consider the hundreds of dollars in annual parking fees, union dues, along with thousands of dollars in insurance premiums paid by healthcare workers," added De Melo. Read the full article

We referenced the following current group insurance employers' contributions from the 2016-2020 FSSS-CSN National Contract.  Individual Plan Employees who are ensured for themselves alone and whose job title earns a maximum on the payscale on March 13, 2011, equal to or greater than $40,000 a year, will see the employer's contribution increase from $2.39 per pay to approximately $7.19. Employees who are ensured for themselves alone and whose job title earns a maximum on the payscale on March 13, 2011, equal to or less than $40,000 a year, will see the employer's contribution increase from $5.28 per pay to approximately $15.89. Family Plan Employees who are ensured for themselves and their dependants and whose job title earns a maximum on the payscale on March 13, 2011, equal to or greater than $40,000 a year, will see the employer's contribution increase from $5.97 per pay to approximately $17.97. Employees who are ensured for themselves alone and whose job title earns a maximum on the payscale on March 13, 2011, equal to or less than $40,000 a year, will see the employer's contribution increase from $13.24 per pay to approximately $39.85. Read the full article

It is excellent news about the pay equity settlement. However, workers need to remember pay equity is a right and protected by law and is entirely independent of contract negotiations.  Pay equity is money that you are entitled to based on your job tasks, regardless of contract negotiations. *(Some job titles are exempt: CNESST) Read the full article

To create a cumulative effect and preserve the salary increase each year, APTS wants the lump sums of $1000 and $600 incorporated in the salary scales. (Image:  Robin Higgins / Pixabay)  #apts #negotiations #wages Read the full article