August 31 2007
20-year nurses get 2% more
The College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) is creating a special link on their website where nurses can directly print proof of the year they were first registered or graduated. Many nurses can use this to prove 20 years of licensed nursing to qualify for the 2% “Retention Recognition” salary increase.
Many nurses will get the 2% increase automatically. Calgary and Capital Health Regions have announced they will give the increase automatically to nurses who have been working with them for 20 years, and other Health Regions are working on similar plans. The increase, and back pay to April 1, 2007 is slated to go on the October 19 payroll.
Other nurses who have 20 years of licensed nursing practice (including LPN licensing) will need to supply the proof to the Human Resources Department by October 10, 2007 in order for the 2% to be retroactive to April 1, 2007.
CARNA is also ensuring all calls about proof are routed to a single registrar assistant to facilitate quick service.
More information, including a special Joint Statement with full information on eligibility and the process, is available on www.una.ab.ca and on UNA*Net.
Provincial bargaining continues only for Bethany Care
Bargaining continues September 5 for the last remaining Employer in the provincial round that has not yet concluded, the Bethany Care facilities in Calgary, Red Deer (Collegeside) and Cochrane.
An agreement was reached with Edmonton Millwoods Good Shepherd in August.
Several other sets of negotiations for nurses with other employers, largely long-term care facilities, are beginning the process this fall.
CFNU’s new book on “Champions of Medicare”
Medicare’s vision and values continue to resonate loudly with the public says the Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions (CFNU). The CFNU commissioned a new book on the subject and all copies of the first printing of Conversations with Champions of Medicare, launched in Moncton on August 8, 2007, were distributed after only nine days.
“No matter what you may have heard in the media lately,” says CFNU President Linda Silas, RN, “Canada’s 135,000 unionized nurses know that our publicly-funded, publicly-administered health care system remains the top priority of Canadians.”
To reserve a copy of Conversations with Champions of Medicare, please call CFNU’s office at 1-800-321-9821 or download a copy from www.cfnu.ca.
Human service sector launches campaign to deal with staff shortage and low wages
Low wages and benefits are causing a serious staffing shortage in Alberta’s services to families, children and the disabled says a group of provincial agencies. On August 29, the agencies launched whocaresalberta.com, a campaign to increase the pay for social agency workers. “We have two key objectives,” said Anton Smith of the Alberta Association of Services for Children and Families, “increase salaries and benefits to people providing services and a three year social infrastructure plan for the province.”
The representatives spoke at a news conference in Edmonton organized to launch the campaign. They are distributing postcards on the issue and ask concerned Albertans to visit the campaign website whocaresalberta.com to get involved.
Conference on wages and who’s missing out on Alberta’s boom
Parkland Institute and the Alberta Federation of Labour are sponsoring a special conference about the impacts of the current boom on Alberta workers and their families. Entitled “Treading Water: Workers, Wages and the Boom”, the conference will look at stagnant wages, explore the causes of inequality in the labour market and discuss solutions to get workers’ wages moving again.
This conference will feature a special guest speaker, retired CAW Economist Sam Gindin talking about “The Politics of Wages: Who’s Holding You Back and Why”. The conference runs Friday and Saturday, September 28 - 29, 2007 at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton. Registration is $50 ($25 for students and low income) and includes all events and lunch on Saturday. To register or for more information go to the Parkland Institute website at www.ualberta.ca/parkland.
AFL Temporary Foreign Worker Advocate inundated with work
In May, the Alberta Federation of Labour launched its Temporary Foreign Worker Project. With over 22,000 temporary foreign workers now in Alberta, the AFL established an Advocate to offer services, free-of-charge, to foreign workers having difficulties with employers or with immigration.
The Advocate, Ms Yessy Byl, is a former UNA LRO with expertise in employment issues and immigration.
The service has been receiving over 50 calls a day coming in on the project’s toll-free phone line. The requests for assistance are far greater than the AFL envisioned and beyond the capacity of any one person to deal with. The AFL has requested funding from both the Provincial and Federal governments. “We strongly believe that both the provincial government and the federal government have a responsibility to respond to the sometimes desperate needs of people working here in Alberta on temporary work permits,” AFL President Gil McGowan said in a letter to Premier Ed Stelmach.
Record numbers without health insurance in U.S.
Michael Moore’s film SiCKO focused on the denial of care to Americans who DO have health insurance. Now new information has come out showing a record 47 million were completely without health insurance in 2006.
U.S. Census Bureau statistics released August 28th showed the percentage of Americans without health insurance rose to 15.8 percent in 2006 from 15.3 percent in 2005. It was the second consecutive year of increase. The report said the increase was largely caused by employers curtailing coverage or making it too costly for lower income workers to afford.
A new Consumer Reports study says 4 in 10 Americans can’t depend on the health insurance they do have. Published in the September issue of Consumer Reports, the study notes that many Americans are “insured but not covered”. 29 percent of people who had health insurance were “underinsured,” with coverage so meager they often postponed medical care because of costs.
Free admission to Alberta Railway Museum for Labour Day
The Alberta Railway Museum is offering free admission to all union members for Labour Day. “The unions helped build, and play a large role in keeping the railways of Canada operating,” the Museum says. The Museum is in NE Edmonton at 24215-34 Street and is open from 10 am to 5 pm. See www.railwaymuseum.ca.
UNA celebrating 30th Anniversary at AGM
This year is UNA’s 30th Anniversary and special celebrations are going to be had at this year’s provincial Annual General Meeting. Mark the dates in your calendar October 23, 24, and 25th. The AGM will be held in Edmonton. Attend your Local meeting to find out about delegate status.
On the Lighter Side
A man returns from Africa and is feeling very ill. He goes to see his doctor, and is immediately rushed to the hospital, to undergo a barrage of tests.
The man wakes up after the tests in a private room at the hospital. Suddenly, the phone by his bed rings.
“This is your doctor. We’ve had the results back from your tests and we’ve found you have an extremely nasty virus, which is extremely contagious!”
“Oh my gosh,” cried the man, “What are you going to do, doctor?”
“Well we’re going to put you on a diet of pizzas, pancakes, and pita bread.”
“Will that cure me?” asked the man.
The doctor replied, “Well no, but...it’s the only food we can get under the door.”
| 
