The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador (RNUNL) stands in full support of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour’s recent call for an increase to the Income Replacement Rate (IRR) for workers, who have gone far too long without a raise in IRR.
For seven consecutive years, while employers have benefited from discounts on assessment rates, our members and fellow workers across the province have been financially disadvantaged when injured on the job. The need for a stronger, fairer income replacement system has never been more urgent, especially as workplace injuries and violence against healthcare workers are on the rise.
“Healthcare professionals who are injured at work are struggling to get by on a fraction of their salary. Meanwhile, the WorkplaceNL injury fund remains in a healthy financial position,” said Yvette Coffey, President of RNUNL. “We echo the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour’s position: before any further discounts are provided to employers, WorkplaceNL and the government must prioritize the welfare of injured workers by increasing the IRR.”
Since 2018, there has been no increase to the IRR, despite a recommendation from a 2019 Statutory Review that the rate should return to 90% of net earnings by January 2022. This inaction fails to respect the historic compromise of the no-fault workers’ compensation system, designed to protect injured workers and ensure fair compensation.
“Many of our members find themselves off work, forced to make ends meet on roughly half of their regular salary,” continued Coffey. “As healthcare professionals dedicated to serving the public, we expect the same level of dedication from WorkplaceNL and the government in supporting our recovery. The current approach rewards employers while disregarding the financial stability and dignity of injured workers.” The Registered Nurses’ Union Newfoundland & Labrador joins the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour in urging the provincial government to act on the Statutory Review recommendations. For our injured workers, fair income replacement is essential to their recovery, well-being, and economic security.