Following the breakthrough in the Commission 2 weeks ago in which the last remaining obstacles to finalization of the HOA were cleared, we were waiting for DHS to provide us with the amended document for signature. When we received the latest draft this week, we found that the very matters which we had gone to the Commission about had not been reinserted into the Heads of Agreement.

We brought this to DHS’s attention on Tuesday of this week, and sent back an amended draft Heads of Agreement the same day. We have also advised the Department about a couple of other minor matters. We have been waiting for the Department’s response.

We have now been promised (today) that a final HOA will be provided next Monday.

Assuming no more glitches, the HOA should be signed next week!

When it is signed health agencies will be authorized to pay the increases and back pay. Full time members will receive a bonus payment of $1250 (pro-rata for part-timers) with the increases back-dated to January 1 2008.