United Nurses of Alberta is currently in “transitional negotiations” to work out terms for a new unified contract under one large bargaining unit for the province. The Alberta Labour Relations Board ordered UNA and Alberta Health Services to engage in good faith negotiations to work out the collective agreement changes involved in the transition from the Health Regions to a single employer, the Alberta Health Services Board.
Part of good faith negotiations is the requirement to exchange all necessary relevant information to allow for full and frank discussions. It also requires representatives at the table who are aware of the employers' plans and have the authority to negotiate.
Talks broke off today and UNA issued the following statement to our members:
United Nurses of Alberta is currently in “transitional negotiations” to work out terms for a new unified contract under one large bargaining unit for the province. Labour relations changes need to be in place for the amalgamation of the Health Regions into the "superboard" Alberta Health Services.
Thus far there have been six days of Transitional Negotiations. July 23, August 19, 20, 21 and August 25, 27.
Aside from productive discussions related to providing electronic information, nothing has been achieved.
During the discussions, it has been apparent the AHS (Alberta Health Services) representatives have not been informed of AHS plans, activities and announcements (eg. reduction of beds in Brooks, closure/downsizing of Alberta Hospital Edmonton, voluntary severance) or has been unwilling to provide information about budget reductions and the impact on UNA members.
On August 27th the UNA Committee informed the AHS representatives that UNA is prepared to continue to negotiate, but only if AHS sends people authorized to negotiate and make decisions.
UNA was unable to obtain any information about the "voluntary early retirement program", included in AHS's August 26th press release. We have asked for specific details on job cuts (vacant positions not filled since May and jobs to be eliminated with the $315 million budget cut announced August 26th).
The complaint to the Labour Relations Board will be amended to include our assertions that AHS has failed to send people to the bargaining table with authority to bargain and the announced "voluntary early retirement program" constitutes an attempt to bargain directly with Employees.
There are suggestions that nurses and other Employees are interested in the "voluntary early retirement program", all members are advised that AHS has not even commenced negotiations about such a plan. Don't believe it unless you hear it from the Union.
August 27, 2009 |
