For Immediate Release
October 16, 2003
Nurses begin campaign to get
Health Regions back to negotiations
Nurses’ Information Picket
10 am to Noon
Friday, Oct. 17, 2003
Gary Mar, MLA Constituency Office
584 – 64 Avenue NE
Negotiations, not a contract imposed by arbitration or special legislation, are the only way to safer, quality health care, says the United Nurses of Alberta. UNA members are beginning a campaign tomorrow to motivate the Health Regions to return to provincial contract negotiations.
The Health Regions have refused to negotiate with nurses and say they want arbitration to settle the new contract. On September 18, UNA presented the Regions with a complete new proposal with new provisions designed to meet the real needs health Employers have identified.
“The Health Regions hope to impose a dangerous contract on nurses through arbitration,” says UNA Secretary-Treasurer Karen Craik. “They want to institute their plan to move nurses from hospital to hospital, to juggle nurses around to deal with inadequate staffing. It’s a plan that’s dangerous for patients,” she says. “Health Regions need to listen to nurses about what is needed for safe care conditions. They need to negotiate with us. They cannot rely on a stacked arbitration panel to reach a good contract.”
Nurses will be mounting an information picket at the Constituency Office of the Minister of Health and Wellness beginning at 10 am on Friday, October 17.
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For comment: Karen Craik, UNA Secretary-Treasurer 403 237-2377 Cell: 510-5163
For more information: Keith Wiley, Communications Officer 780 425-1025.
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