June 26, 2007
Vote on Mediator’s Recommendations
On Wednesday, July 11th members will be voting on the Mediator’s Recommendations at all Locals in Provincial Negotiations. Check with your Local for poll locations and times.
Full detailed information on the Recommendations are available through Local Executives, at special Local meetings, on the UNA*Net email and conferencing system and on the UNA website, www.una.ab.ca. Documents available include:
1. Full wording of the proposed agreement (“Mediator’s Recommendation for the Settlement of Terms for the Collective Agreement”)
2. “Mediator’s Report Recommending Terms of Settlement”
3. “Summary of Mediator Recommendations”
4. “National Comparison of Key Nursing Contract Provisions”
An upcoming issue of the NewsBulletin also includes a brief summary and introduction to some of the main changes that would come about under the Recommendations. A special letter has been sent to all members because of an unfortunate typo in the NewsBulletin. On page seven, the summary of recommendations says improvements in health benefits would start in 2008, when in fact the superior benefits would begin October 1, 2007.
Update on other tables...
The UNA Negotiating Committee has been meeting with the Alberta Cancer Board, the Bethany Care Society and other Employers who also are in bargaining now in the provincial round. The Committee’s objective is to get a settlement offer for these other tables to allow UNA members at these Employers to also vote on July 11th.
Summer Temporary LRO Staffing
UNA is hiring temporary Labour Relations Staff to provide service during vacation periods. Linda Harkness, President of Local #1 in Calgary will be temporarily working in the Southern Alberta Regional Office in Calgary.
Labour Relations Board hearing concerns on UNA representing LPNs
When just a few LPNs asked to be represented by UNA at an Edmonton long-term care facility, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) took exception to it. AUPE decided to challenge UNA’s application for determination at the Alberta Labour Relations Board. AUPE represents most of the LPNs in the province and it was AUPE who wrote to all their LPN members charging that UNA was derogatory towards LPNs because of our advertising campaign “It takes Registered nurses for safe health care.”
Now AUPE is alleging that the law firm representing UNA at the LRB, Chivers Carpenter, is in a conflict of interest because Chivers Carpenter also has represented AUPE. Interestingly, the lawyer representing AUPE is Simon Renouf, who of course is a former executive director of UNA.
The Labour Relations Board is holding a preliminary hearing on AUPE’s conflict of interest charge on Wednesday, June 27, 2007.
See SiCKO! It’s good for your health!
UNA has been giving away complimentary tickets to screenings of the new Michael Moore film on U.S.health care SiCKO!
“Every Albertan who may one day need medical care should see this film,” says UNA Vice-President Bev Dick. “The harsh stories of how American insurance companies increase profits by refusing people medical care are a compelling reason for us to protect our universal public system,” she said. “That’s why watching SiCKO is good for the health of Albertans.”
UNA is looking at other promotional possibilities to encourage as many Albertans as possible to see the movie!
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