Minister Marshall just moved Negotiations to the Court Room

As a result of the discussion found below - the CICPO will be proceeding to court.

Yesterday on Vocm's Back-Talk with Paddy Daly - Minister Tom Marshall called to discuss one subject - the pharmacy issue.

Below please find a transcript of the conversation:

PHARMACISTS NEGOTIATIONS: "Finance Minister Tom Marshall" is calling as Minister of the Public Service Secretariat to talk about negotiations with the Pharmacists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011  02:19PM
VOCM - St. John's

PADDY DALY: Let's begin this afternoon and speak with the MHA for Humber East, the Minister of Finance, President of Treasury Board - Tom Marshall. Minister Marshall you're on the air.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: Great. Good afternoon Paddy.

PADDY DALY: Good afternoon to you sir.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: Paddy I'm calling you in my capacity as the Minister responsible for the Public Service Secretariat.

PADDY DALY: Okay.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: The Public Service Secretariat as you know is the institution in government that negotiates major contracts you know, the labour agreements when collective bargaining comes up and also the agreement with the doctors.

PADDY DALY: Right.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: So the Public Service Secretariat is now involved with health and community services in conducting negotiations with the pharmacists, the group called PANL - the Pharmacists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

PADDY DALY: Yes sir.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: We want to negotiate a new agreement and PANL is at the table and they have committee called the government relations committee which has a mandate from their board of directors to negotiate a contract on behalf of members that are involved in the pharmacy retail business.

PADDY DALY: Right.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: So there are three PANL members at the table, the chair is an independent pharmacist, one of the other members is also pharmacist and the third one is a former independent pharmacist. They are there now and they have advised me that they're holding a seat available at the table for CICPO which is the Council of Independent Community Pharmacy Owners.

PADDY DALY: Now CICPO will say to that Minister Marshall that that government relations committee has not teeth or say when it comes down to the final ratification or acceptance of negotiations, they bring it back to the board of PANL - a 9 person board with only one independent on it, Mr. Rick Elliott who owns a host of pharmacies so it's not considered the same small business independent that the others at CICPO will call themselves so they give no weight to those independents on that government working relations committee.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: Well I can say that there are two independent pharmacists taking part in the discussions and the seat is being held for CICPO unfortunately CICPO has refused to participate in the process and there's nothing that I can do about that. We want to negotiate an appropriate contract and the way you do that is sit down and negotiate at the table, negotiations started on August 16th that was the first meeting there have been 2 more sessions since then and the process is continuing so it's not appropriate to negotiate in public - we're going to carry out the negotiations in private as is the normal case and therefore will make no further comment while a negotiations are ongoing.

PADDY DALY: So we won't hear from the government any further on the independent pharmacy issue or the generic drug pricing?

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL: We will carry out the negotiations with PANL's committee as I said, there is a seat at the table - PANL tells me they have a seat at the table for CICPO if they choose to attend but we will carry out the negotiations and will make no further comment while negotiations are ongoing.

PADDY DALY: Minister Marshall, not to act privy to those negotiations but do you, yourself see the benefit in getting all the information required to make a good decision on this important policy to have a sit down with CICPO as they have obviously made no bones about it - they're not going to sit down with PANL, they have no interest in going through this process without their voice being heard as a group, a recognized group of CICPO. Do you see the benefit of sitting down with them?

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL:The...we are aware of CICPO's issues; we are not negotiating with CICPO we are negotiating with PANL, there is a seat at the table for CICPO. They are refusing to take that seat. That's most unfortunate but there is nothing I can do about that. PANL is a group that government has recognized in the past we've negotiated contracts with them in the past and will continue to negotiate with them again, CICPO has a seat at the table. They have chosen not to participate.

PADDY DALY:I understand that position from the government and I hear you loud and clear Minister Marshall, this is the last we'll hear from the government on the airwaves or on the newscasts regarding these negotiations. I am sure we will hear a reaction from CICPO this afternoon but we appreciate you making the government's position here on the programme today.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL:Great. Thanks Paddy for giving that opportunity.

PADDY DALY:All the best, Sir.

MINISTER TOM MARSHALL:Bye now.

PADDY DALY:Bye-bye.

As a result of this discourse - the CICPO is now proceeding to court to challenge the Pharmacy Act regarding the mandate of the Pharmacists Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.


The irony is that the words of the Minister could not have stated our case more clearly.

The filing is expected by early next week and will be posted here.