March 10, 2010
AHS says unprecedented rollbacks "very fair"
"To date there has been only one negotiating session. UNA was very surprised and disappointed at the proposals put forward by AHS. We were even more surprised to read the following statements in a news release from AHS: "We value RNs and the important skills they provide in caring for Albertans every day. We want to continue to enhance their role in the health care system to improve patient care." "We believe we are offering a very fair and competitive proposal that will support our nursing workforce."
The following link is a summary of the rollbacks the employer has proposed. We encourage everyone to read the proposals and determine for themselves if AHS truly values its nurses, or if their proposal is "very fair and competitive."
March 8, 2010
UNA opened negotiations March 8 with a one page, short list of proposals addressing key issues for nursing in Alberta. Alberta Health Services responded with a full proposal document that included an unprecedented number and scale of rollbacks.
The key proposals from nurses focused on improving nursing care and safety. Health care in Alberta continues to struggle with a nursing shortage, and with too few beds and nurses. UNA wants these negotiations to make progress in dealing with the core problems that are hurting health care for Albertans.
UNA's key issues proposal appears below.
UNA Shortlist of Proposals to Renew the Collective Agreement
The United Nurses of Alberta is desirous of achieving a new labour agreement that is both fair and affordable. Because of past turmoil and the mutual desire for stability, we believe it is important this happen in a timely manner. To this end, UNA brings the following key issues forward, and we propose that all other provisions of the collective agreement be renewed, with appropriate date changes where applicable.
If we do not reach agreement on these matters, UNA will provide a complete list of proposed amendments.
1. Patient Safety and Quality of Care
• Constraints on the level and quality of care that professional nurses have been able to provide is a great concern for UNA members. Registered Nurses (RN) and Registered Psychiatric Nurses (RPN) have professional standards that must be met. Nurses express fear that changes have reduced and eroded the care they are able to deliver. Research repeatedly demonstrates that care by RN’s and RPN’s shortens stays, reduces infections and complications, and helps control costs.
• For these reasons, UNA proposes there shall be a RN or RPN in charge of each unit. For “at or out of” (community) areas there shall be an RN/RPN in charge of each office. Where there is more than one program or service in an office there shall be an RN/RPN in charge of each program. (Note - this need not be a UNA member, the RN/RPN could be a management nurse, nursing unit manager, Nurse Practitioner, etc.)
• To ensure patient safety, UNA proposes the RN/RPN in charge shall have the duty and authority to augment staff and/or to limit or stop the admission of patients/residents/clients to the unit or program, when in her professional judgment it is necessary to do so. No disciplinary action will be taken against the charge nurse for exercising this responsibility to protect safe patient/resident/client care.
2. Employee Occupational Health and Safety and RN/RPN Professional Responsibility
• UNA proposes there be clear guidelines and processes to fully resolve all issues and concerns relating to Employee health and safety and to RN/RPN responsibility for safe quality patient care.
3. Layoff and Recall
• UNA proposes the Employer provide 28 day notice of layoff (to equal the 28 day notice of resignation an Employee must provide). UNA proposes Employees with less than 24 months of seniority also have displacement rights. UNA proposes cost-shared benefits continue during a period of layoff.
4. Length of Contract and Salary
• UNA proposes a two-year term, with increases of 4% in each year.
5. Prepaid Health Benefits
• UNA proposes dental benefits be: 100% of basic coverage; cleanings twice per year; 80% coverage for extensive and orthodontic treatment with an annual cap of $5,000 for extensive and a lifetime cap of $5,000 for orthodontic.
• UNA proposes Casual Employees and Employees who are retiring have the option to participate in the group benefit plan, provided they pay both the Employer and the Employee share of the premiums.
February 19, 2010 Provincial Negotiations underway
 UNA's province-wide contract negotiations will get underway with the exchange of proposals on March 8th. Representatives for Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health and other smaller employers will be meeting with UNA's elected Negotiating Committee for several dates of bargaining that have been scheduled through March and April.
"We're just waiting to see what the Employers are proposing," says UNA President Heather Smith. "The proposals they come in with could give a signal of how long this bargaining round is going to take."
The UNA team has a clear mandate from members coming out of the Demand Setting Meeting of over 600 UNA local representatives held last November. In the province-wide ratification vote by members on January 20th, 100% of Locals and 98.4% of members voting, approved the ingoing proposal package.
Twelve further dates set for talks
An extensive schedule of negotation meetings has already been set.
March 17, 18, 19 March 29, 30, 31 April 14, 15, 16 April 26, 27, 28
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Contacts at UNA Provincial Office 780 425-1025
President: Heather Smith Communications Officer: Keith Wiley Communications Officer: Dave Cournoyer
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