For Immediate Release May1, 2008
UNA nurses charge Extendicare not valuing nurses
Nurses putting up an information picket
on Thursday, May 1
Registered nurses working at Extendicare say their Employer is undervaluing its nursing staff which, they say, will undermine care for the long-term care provider's residents. The United Nurses of Alberta members have been in contract negotiations with Extendicare for several months. Recently the talks stalled after sessions with a provincial mediator failed to reach a deal.
"Extendicare is refusing to give us the same terms almost all the othe rnurses in the province get, "says Extendicare Somerset Local President RenéeTurcotte. "They get the same public funding for nursing services as other long-term care centres, but evidently they are not spending it on nursing care."
Mediation ended without an agreement just over a week ago, and the parties are now in an official "cooling off" period. The negotiations cover nine separate Extendicare facilities around Alberta, including the Somerset, Holyrood and Leduc Extendicare sites inthe Edmonton area.
The nurses are planning to apply to the Labour Relations Board to hold a strike vote.
Renée Turcotte says Extendicare nurses are unwilling to be valued less than other nurses. "We aren't insisting on absolutely the same terms, but Extendicare has to at least make an effort to move closer. If Extendicare doesn't get more competitive, they are going to have real problems keeping Registered nursing staff. That's a real concern for us and for residents and their families too."
The key issues in the talks include shift premiums, education allowances, pension payments, vacation terms, portability of vacation and sickleave, and roll backs.
"The 4.5% of salary as a pension contribution is a good example," says Renée Turcotte. "That would be a reduction for some of our nurses. Most nurses in the province are in the Local Authorities Pension Plan, and their employers contribute over 10% ofsalary to pensions. We're not even asking for complete parity with that. We're asking for 8%. What they have offered is a rollback," Renée Turcotte says.
ExtendicareNurses will be holding an Informational Picket
11:30 am to 12:15 pm, Thursday, May 1, 2008
Extendicare Somerset 13210-114 Street
For more information contact UNACommunications Officer Keith Wiley at 780 425-1025.
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