Conditions grow worse inside Devonshire Care Centre, UNA warns

Conditions grow worse inside Devonshire Care Centre, nurses’ union warns

The quality of care for seniors within the Devonshire Care Centre continues to suffer while the B.C. corporation that owns the facility refuses to negotiate a fair first collective agreement with a group of 15 Registered Nurses represented by the United Nurses of Alberta.

UNA President Heather Smith today wrote Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne, AHS Chair Stephen Lockwood and AHS President and CEO Dr. Chris Eagle to express concern about deteriorating conditions within the Devonshire Care Centre and the employer’s bargaining strategy.

However, UNA Labour Relations Director David Harrigan said the union expects talks to resume soon. UNA is prepared to return to the bargaining table at any time to resolve the situation, he said.

The UNA nurses at the Devonshire Care Centre went on strike New Year’s Eve as part of their effort for a fair and respectful first collective agreement

Park Place Seniors Living, the Vancouver-based for-profit corporation that owns the centre and other sites in Alberta is determined to pay them as much as $9 per hour less than other public and private sector nurses in Alberta – including those at other facilities run by the same company.

In her letter, Smith asked the officials to investigate reports from within the centre of residents going without scheduled medical treatments, late administration of prescription drugs, mishandling of narcotic drugs and unqualified staff members being asked to administer medication.

A copy of Smith’s letter to Health Minister Fred Horne is provided with this news release.

For more information, contact:

Heather Smith, President, United Nurses of Alberta, 780-437-2477 or heather@una.ab.ca

David Harrigan, Director, Labour Relations, United Nurses of Alberta, 780-709-5645