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2000
Health Care Reform
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) done in Private Clinics
In January 2000 there was an increase in private sector control of health to the point where the Calgary Regional Health Authority (CRHA) was proposing to allow private MRI equipment to be installed in public hospitals.
In September 2000, Health Canada began investigating 37 instances of private payment for MRI’s. These instances were sent to Allan Rock by the Friends of Medicare of which UNA is a coalition member.
• Nursing Shortages and Hospital Closures
During January 2000, media headlines across the country read “nursing shortage”. The flu season in Calgary required the opening of 51 temporary beds, of these only 6 could be staffed with nurses. The shortage continued to intensify across Canada throughout 2000 and employers tried various recruitment schemes.
Didsbury citizens and UNA Local #34 in Region 5 rallied successfully to save their hospital from being converted into a long term care facility in January of 2000.
In February 2000, The Consumers’ Association of Canada released a study that shows the growth of private cataract surgery clinics in Alberta has increased public waiting lists and increased the cost of surgery.
Chinook Region announced in February 2000, a plan to close emergency rooms and acute care services in four (4) rural hospitals and to move nursing home residents to privately-run assisted-living sites where there would be no registered nurses on staff. UNA Locals became involved in a successful attempt to stop these changes. Milk River was maintained as a full acute care facility and the new St. Michael’s was maintained as a nursing home with RN staffing. Coaldale, Picture Butte and Magrath hospitals were still faced with possible closure as acute care facilities. Eventually these hospitals were maintained as acute care facilities.
• Health Ministers Talk About Health Care Funding
In June 2000, the government announced funding for 157 new education openings for RNs in diploma programs.
On September 11, 2000, the Federal-Provincial agreement put an additional $23.4 billion over 5 years into health and social programs but failed to provide firm accountability and reporting on funds and did nothing to strengthen medicare.
In October, 2000, provincial health ministers and federal minister Allan Rock met in Winnipeg to discuss federal health funding and released “The Nursing Strategy” for Canada. This strategy called for increasing education openings for RNs by 10% over the next two years and for the formation of a provincial nursing advisory committees and a national advisory committee.
Regional Health Authorities
Early in January 2000, a consolidation agreement in Capital Care, Region 10 was expanded to include the Capital Health community nurses in Local #196. This allows for nurses to move between sites in that Region. This agreement was ratified February 14, 2000.
Capital Health hired 100 new nursing grads into one-year supernumerary positions in the Region in an attempt to maintain nurses in Alberta. In May, UNA Locals in Region 10 ratified a Letter of Understanding regarding these 100 supernumerary positions.
October 2000, in Mistahia, a mass resignation of the RHA members occurred as a result of government fiscal pressure and increasing user, doctor and staff complaints. The Review Panel recommended the Region hire more nurses and provide adequate leadership.
Organizing
In November 1999, UNA organized Local #213, Forest Grove Care Centre Ltd. in Calgary with 48 duespayers.
In March of 2000, UNA organized Local #211, Calgary Regional Health Authority (Calgary Community) with 725 duespayers.
In November 2000, UNA organized the nurses at Dr. Cook Extended Care Centre in Lloydminster which became UNA Local #216 with 16 duespayers.
Bargaining
In January 2000, the Alberta Cancer Board Locals prepared bargaining demands. The Local’s demands were to retain superior provisions and to move to provincial contract language.
Negotiations were successfully concluded for Canadian Blood Services (Local #155) and six (6) Extendicare Locals (Extendicare/Edmonton North, Local #117; Extendicare - Lethbridge, Local #161; Extendicare/Edmonton South, Local #168; Extendicare/Leduc, Local #170; Extendicare - Fort MacLeod, Local #189 and Extendicare/Mayerthorpe, Local #209) with increases for all duespayers affected.
In February 2000, Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) settled their Collective Agreement and became the highest paid nurses in Canada effective April 1, 2000.
During March of 2000, Alberta Cancer Board (Local #302), Salem Manor - Leduc (Local #194), Rivercrest Care Centre (Local #312), the Good Samaritan Mill Woods Centre (Local #311), the Good Samaritan Southgate (Local #316), and Good Samaritan Auxiliary Hospital (Local #314) (renamed Dr. Gerald Zetter Care Center) were in bargaining.
In May 2000, Alberta Cancer Board and UNA Local #302 ratified a new Collective Agreement which maintained superior provisions and adopted provincial contract provision language and format.
November 6 and 7, 2000 Provincial Demand Setting for hospitals, community and not-for-profit long term care was held in Edmonton. Delegates passed an in-going set of proposals which were ratified by the members on December 12, 2000.
Grievances, Arbitrations, Mediations and Hearings
In 2000, UNA members and their Local Executives and Grievance Committees monitored the Employers’ application of all UNA’s Collective Agreements and grieved when necessary. Labour Relations staff offered support, advice and hard work to ensure that all UNA duespayers were accorded full contract rights.
UNA filed one thousand and thirteen (1013) grievances in 2000, four hundred and seventy-five (475) of which were advanced to arbitration. UNA received twenty-one (21) arbitration awards in 2000.
In addition, UNA members were represented at AARN hearings; WCB appeals and Short and Long Term insurance appeals.
In February 2000, UNA Locals filed one hundred and forty (140) age discrimination grievances and successfully achieved benefits for nurses over the age of sixty-five (65).
Another win in the maternity leave grievances allowed sick leave use in pre-delivery period for health-related absences due to pregnancy.
Education
In 2000, 50 workshops and 22 District meeting workshops were offered to 1490 participants.
The basic workshops on Local functioning, Grievance handling, Professional Responsibility Committees, Staffing Committees, Occupational Health & Safety Committees, Contract Interpretation and Ward/Office representatives were offered to the membership.
In addition, Locals organized workshops to meet their needs and worked with UNA’s Education Officer to provide workshops to members on Duty to Accommodate, Workplace Abuse, Nurse Abuse, Personal Directives, Protection for Persons in Care Act, RN/RPN Staffing, the Health Information Act , new LPN Regulations, Negotiating Committee Orientation and Computer education.
In May 2000, the Staff Abuse Prevention and Management Initiative, a coalition of union, management and government representatives, directed the production and dissemination of educational materials identifying workplace abuse and actions that can prevent it.
Communications
Registered nursing was in the headlines in 2000, as the impact of the shortage of RNs/RPNs hit hard with bed and even ward closures across the province. UNA Executive Officers and Local Executive Officers were quoted extensively in news coverage focusing on the shortage crisis.
When an Alberta government spokesperson had the temerity to say there was no shortage, UNA publicly responded with a statement from Director of Labour Relations, David Harrigan saying: “Nurses find it extremely stressful when they don’t have enough time to attend to their patients and that affects the patients and residents. It is a direct impact on the quality of care and that disturbs nurses the most”.
The UNA Communications Officer was very involved in the following:
• Outcry against Bill 11
Nurses across the province spoke out publicly on Bill 11’s threat to our public health system. “Bill 11 is a nation-wide concern,” President Heather Smith told news media. “The for-profit hospital precedent Bill 11 will set has the potential for gravely misdirecting the entire Canadian health system.” UNA members helped lead the Friends of Medicare Bill 11 campaign and UNA contributed a great deal of communications support.
• “What Democracy Looks Like”, a popular ten minute video produced by UNA captured the spirit of the headline-making Bill 11 protests. With speeches and protestors, the lively video outlines the threat Bill 11 poses to public health care.
• LPN Strike
UNA was prominent speaking out on behalf of LPNs and other hospital employees during the AUPE strike in May. While the LPNs were only out for three days, UNA took a high profile in support of striking colleagues both in news coverage and by members walking in support on picket lines. While the news media had frequent headlines shouting that nurses were on strike, the public position that UNA and registered nurses were supporting the LPNs helped to clarify the distinction between LPNs and registered nurses who were NOT on strike.
• Nursing Week
UNA cooperated with the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses on a promotional campaign for Nursing Week and International Nurses Day, May 12. Part of that campaign was a series of newspaper ads during Nursing Week that prominently featured UNA members from around the province, with the slogan: We Care: for your family’s health and health care.
For the annual general meeting, UNA produced a colour poster “The Courage to Care” that outlined concerns registered nurses have about the nursing shortage and its impact both on patient care and on nurses!
• Communicating with Members
The regular members’ newsletter, the NewsBulletin, continued as one of the main vehicles for communications with members in 2000. It was supplemented by the bi-weekly, re-designed UNA Stat, the electronically distributed flyer of news and UNA events. UNA also published a number of Spotlight posters that helped highlight clarify contract issues.
Research and Policy Development
UNA created a new Research and Policy Development position.
The position is very broad in scope, providing a wide range of research and policy development functions to UNA. Working primarily with Labour Relations staff, the Policy & Research Officer performs background research on a variety of issues important to the membership. These issues range from quality of worklife and workplace concerns, to larger political and economic issues surrounding health care in general.
The position will continue to grow as the research needs of the UNA are identified and developed.
Computerization
PRC/Staffing
UNA Local #33 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) made an impressive presentation to the Capital Health Authority regarding twenty-three (23) outstanding PRC complaints and recommended that beds be closed until safe staffing levels were met. Talks between the Local and management focused on the weekend shifts when short staffing was especially evident. A proposal for a “weekend worker” was to be examined and brought back for a decision.
Nurses at St. Michael’s Health Centre - Lethbridge, Local #72 had numerous PRC complaints regarding their new long term care facility. They filed over fourty (40) complaints on under-staffing and the lowering of standards.
Nurses in UNA Local #23, Pincher Creek Municipal Hospital did their own time and motion study to record all duties done by RN’s showing the need for a charge nurse and an assistant head nurse. They took these statistics to their employer via the Staffing Committee and were successful.
Occupational Health & Safety
May 3 & 4, 2000, the Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (AARN) Annual Conference focused on healthy health care worksites and the keynote speaker, Dr. Judith Shamian, presented her views on “Healthy Worksites, Healthy Nurses”.
Toxic mould in a unit at the Calgary District Hospital Group - Rockyview in Calgary caused staff to become sick. The hospital spent $70,000 to clean up the toxic mould which can cause bleeding in the lungs in high doses.
A study by the University of Lethbridge which surveyed seven hundred (700) nurses in Alberta shows that they are suffering from a higher rate of stress than any other single profession. Thirty-two percent (32%) were found to be at the higher stages of burnout.
Pensions
Previous vesting time for LAPP pensions has been five (5) years. “Vesting time” is the period before which a member withdraws credits but is not entitled to the employer’s portion of contributions. After “vesting” the member can withdraw/transfer both employee and employer contributions. The change reduces “vesting time” to two (2) years.
“Gender neutral” benefit guarantees were introduced by LAPP and will take effect September 1, 2000 but there is a six-month (6) grace period for LAPP women members to maximize their pension payouts.
Political Action
• Quebec bargaining
In January 2000, FIIQ, the federation of Quebec nurses’ unions, was back in intensive negotiations after the government offered both its public sector unions and the FIIQ nine percent over four years.
The nine percent did not include “pay relativity adjustments” for nurses that would be retroactive to July 1, 1998. The nurses had rejected a 2.5 per cent pay relativity that came from the government in November of 1999.
Quebec nurses were scheduled to vote February 24 on a proposed settlement that was recommended by a 95 percent vote of the Federal Council of the Federation des Infirmieres et Infirmiers du Quebec (FIIQ). The settlement would finally close a long round of bargaining that reached a crisis with the nurses’ strike in June of 1999.
In the final proposed settlement, $77 million had been added to the 9% hike over 4 years that was negotiated in December. The $77 million catch up would cover a lump sum of 3% for all nurses, the repositioning of baccalaureate nurses in the social workers’ salary scale and the readjustment of salary scales for nurses with CEGEP-training. The work on the issue of pay relativity continued and the results would be integrated in 2001.
The nurses also won a process for the conversion of hours of replacement (casual) into positions. Since September of 1999 over 500 positions had been posted. Estimates indicated that one thousand more positions would be posted in the coming weeks. This process of conversion will be repeated every two years, thus avoiding the expansion of casual jobs by employers.
As of April 2000, salaries for Baccalaureate degree nurses would move up to $17.33 (start rate) to $31.92 (at the final eighteenth step). Diploma nurses (CEGEP training) would start at $16.69 to $24.87 (at the final twelfth step).
The union also won improvements in pension eligibility criteria moving to eligibility for full pension at 60 years regardless of the number of years of service and at 35 years of service regardless of age.
On March 2, 2000, delegates to the Quebec federal council voted 95 percent in favour of accepting the new memorandum of agreement with the provincial government. The meeting had been postponed by FIIQ (Federation des Infirmiers et Infirmieres du Quebec) after the government had reversed its position on clauses for granting of Assistant Head Nurse and Baccalaureate Assistant Head Nurse positions. Last minute negotiations reached a new agreement on the clauses.
Though shocked by the employers’ turn-about on this issue, delegates nevertheless recommended the acceptance of the agreement in principle which they considered, on the whole, to be highly satisfactory.
The members voted in a province-wide referendum on the agreement on March 16, 2000. They voted to accept.
• International Nurses’ Day — May 12, 2000
Edmonton:
March 8, 5:00 pm: United in Sisterhood to Share our Strength
March from the YMCA to City Hall followed by displays, entertainment and speeches.
March 8, 7:30 pm: What counts Most — A Lecture by Marilyn Waring
Parkland Institute presented a lecture at the Tory Lecture Theatre II (University of Alberta).
March 11, 11:30 am: Forward Together — Beyond Violence and Poverty!
Held at the Winspear Centre and included speakers Nancy Riche from the CLC and anti-poverty activist, Midge Cuthill, entertainers, information tables and an art display.
Lethbridge:
March 9, 10:00 am: Women & Poverty — Challenging the Myths
Opening ceremonies based on “Bread and Roses” began at the YWCA followed by an international lunch at noon and a 1:00 pm workshop, Poverty in Our Own Community.
Hinton:
March 8, 6:00 pm: Healthy Family Living
A family spaghetti dinner was held at the Royal Canadian Legion.
Red Deer:
March 8, 6:00 pm: Looking at the World Through the Eyes of Women
A dinner was held at the Red Deer Lodge with a guest speaker who attended the Women’s World Conference in Beijing.
Calgary:
March 8, 10:30 am: Women’s Centre Open House and Potluck Dinner
Open House at the Women’s Centre was followed by a potluck supper and the presentation of the AFL IWD Award.
March 8, Noon: Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association Potluck Lunch
Potluck lunch was held at the CIWA.
March 8, Noon: Silent Vigil Against Violence Against Women
At the Famous Five Statue at the Olympic Plaza, was organized by the Women’s Interchurch Committee.
March 8, 7:00 pm: Inter-Disciplinary Event: Portraits, Words and Song
Gallery exhibits dedicated to women and art at the Centre Gallery.
March 9: Noon: There Are Alternatives “People Before Profits” Rally
At the Tory Convention at the Calgary Convention Centre was followed by a march from the Convention Centre to the “Unconvention” at the Multicultural Centre. At 1:30 the “Unconvention: explored alternatives and choices for families and the community.
• National Nurses’ Week — May 8-14, 2000
This year’s National Nursing Week was celebrated May 8 - 14 to recognize the contributions of Registered Nurses. Provincially, UNA was highly visible with a media campaign for Nursing Week and International Nurses’ Day, May 12th.
Nursing Week and International Nurses’ Day (May 12th) was celebrated around the world to express appreciation for the women and men who do direct hands-on care of the ill, the infirm and the vulnerable.
• Bill 11
In February 2000 forums were organized by Friends of Medicare to discuss the government’s private, for-profit hospital health care proposals.
A province-wide information campaign was organized by Friends of Medicare to expose the government’s latest push for private hospitals. The website is savemedicare.org.
In March 2000 the government introduced Bill 11 which would allow private for-profit hospitals. UNA supported Friends of Medicare in organizing a coalition of activists to oppose Bill 11. Big rallies in Edmonton and Calgary in April attracted thousands of angry Albertans. Speakers included Shirley Douglas and her grandson Keifer Sutherland — both descendants of Tommy Douglas. Rallies were held throughout the province. Demonstrations followed at the Legislature and very soon these demonstrations became spontaneous, unplanned events night after night through April and into May until the government pushed through the legislation in the face of massive public opposition. A delegation of Friends of Medicare representatives including Heather Smith met with
Allan Rock in Ottawa to demand federal action to stop Bill 11. However, Bill 11 was proclaimed on September 27, 2000. In an attempt to bury Bill 11 opposition, Halvar Jonson was replaced by Gary Mar as the Minister of Health.
In September after the proclamation of Bill 11, the Premier’s Advisory Council on Health was constituted as per Bill 11, and the premier moved to appoint political friends. In November UNA joined with the Health Sciences Association of Alberta and met with the Premier’s Advisory Council on Health responding to the Council’s request for consultation on the question of “continuing sustainability of the publicly-funded and publicly-administered health system”. The privatization of Alberta’s health care system took great negative strides forward in 2000.
• Parkland Institute
In February 2000 the Parkland Institute released results of a study done by Kevin Taft and Gillian Stewart showing that private hospitals are more expensive than public hospitals and that health care is not a commodity and does not conform to market forces.
• Federal Minister, Allan Rock
In February 2000 representatives from nursing unions across Canada, including UNA, met with the Federal Health Minister, Allan Rock, and presented him with a nursing perspective of the main problems in Canada’s health care system.
• Bill 40 - Health Information Act
In March 2000 the government assured UNA that Bill 40 policy prohibits health care employers from using personal health records for discipline or management purposes except with employees’ permission.
• Bill 11 - Federal Election
In November 2000 Alberta’s Bill 11 and the threat of private hospitals became a central federal election issue. The election, however, managed to focus on other issues, and health care privatization was never in the spotlight.
Annual General Meeting
In August 2000 the UNA Executive Board met to prepare for the AGM by discussing policy and budget decisions. The Board passed a motion to bring forward an AGM motion to increase UNA dues in 1.3% of gross income.
On November 8 & 9, 2000 delegates to UNA’s 2000 AGM voted strongly to continue affiliation with the CFNU and passed a motion to increase UNA dues to 1.3% of gross income. This motion had to be ratified by a majority of UNA Locals and a majority of UNA members voting. The increase was ratified on December 12, 2000.
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