Nurses at the UNA Presidents' Meeting in Edmonton, June 15, 2009.
UNA is mobilizing nurses across the province to take action to protect the public health care system from more damaging cutbacks.
"Alberta Health Services is cutting hundreds of nursing jobs, management jobs and services," Heather Smith said in Edmonton on Monday. "They are drastically reducing the public health system available to citizens, and they are trying to pretend that they are not," she said.
At a meeting of 250 nursing leaders, Heather Smith launched the nurses campaign to contact elected representatives to inform them and members of the public about what the cuts will mean to the care of Albertans.
"Albertans are feeling the impact of these cuts on their care now," said Heather Smith, "and they will only feel it more and more. We now that waits for procedures and surgeries is already going up drastically."
The nurses union says the cuts to the public system are a backdoor way to expanding demand and opportunities for private, for-profit medical entrepreneurs.
"Ed Stelmach said no more "Third Way" but he is clearly proceeding fast with the same plan for cutting public and boosting private health care in the province," Heather Smith said.
UNA members should contact their Local Executive members to join in the action on turning up the heat!! |
