PrintUNA files bad faith bargaining complaint about care centre owner's conduct
For immediate release: Friday, Jan. 4, 2013
The United Nurses of Alberta has filed a formal complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board that states the operator of the Devonshire Care Centre is bargaining in bad faith with UNA members at the Edmonton facility.
UNA’s complaint asks the Labour Relations Board to convene an emergency hearing by the weekend and order the employer to return to negotiations, to bargain in good faith and meet the union with the assistance of a provincially appointed mediator.
“There is some urgency in concluding this dispute,” UNA states in its filing to the Labour Board. “The dispute is affecting elderly, frail residents of the centre and the union has heard reports that resident care is suffering.”
Members of UNA Local 417 have been on strike since New Year’s Eve after bargaining for more than a year and half in an effort to get a first collective agreement from the for-profit Vancouver corporation that owns the care centre.
UNA’s complaint states in part Park Place Seniors Living Inc. has bargained in bad faith by consistently saying it would provide the union with an amended proposal and then failing to do so, cancelling scheduled bargaining because the union had served strike notice or for other reasons, and stating it was prepared to meet anytime and then refusing to meet.
On Wednesday, UNA President Heather Smith wrote Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne, Alberta Health Services Chair Stephen Lockwood and AHS President and CEO Dr. Chris Eagle to express concern about deteriorating conditions within the facility and the employer’s bargaining strategy.
Park Place Seniors Living is determined to pay Registered Nurses at Devonshire 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 addition to reports of residents going without scheduled medical treatments, late administration of prescription medication, mishandling of narcotic drugs and unqualified staff asked to administer medication, UNA learned today of night shifts run without Registered Nurses in violation of the Nursing Homes Act and a replacement worker fired for swearing in front of residents.
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