April 28 2009
Stand Up for Public Healthcare Rally!
May 9, 2009 @ 1:30 pm Alberta Legislature, Edmonton
Friends of Medicare, along with a province-wide coalition of seniors groups, healthcare workers, unions, and concerned citizens, are getting together on May 9th to tell our government that we want positive public improvements to our healthcare system!
Friends of Medicare is organizing buses and car pools from around the province, including from Calgary, Red Deer and Hinton and Lloydminster. Anyone who wants to come to the rally on one of the buses, can contact the office at 780 423 4581.
Health minister tries to blame nurse overtime for health deficits
Alberta’s Health and Wellness Minister Ron Liepert tried to blame nurses’ overtime for health budget deficits in media interviews recently.
“One of the largest cost factors is paying overtime, double time, and triple time to nurses,” Liepert told the Calgary Sun.
He said the government has a “horrible” contract with nurses and the province needs “a contract that better serves the members of the nursing profession and better serves the taxpayers.”
UNA responded by pointing out that it is the nursing shortage, not nurses, that cause overtime costs and the government created the shortage by laying off 5,000 nurses 15 years ago, and by cutting nursing schools.
“We’ve worked really hard with Alberta Health Services to try to bring in recruitment and retention initiatives. Mr. Liepert, with these very irresponsible comments, has set us back in our efforts to keep new graduates in this province and to keep nurses working,” UNA President Heather Smith said in response to Liepert’s remarks.
UNA surveying on overtime, workloads
UNA will be conducting another telephone survey of nurses, similar to the survey of last year. Viewpoints Research is handling it and will be asking questions on the quality of care, the amount nurses work (FT. PT casual), overtime, etc.
As with our last survey, we will be talking to 1500 rank and file members. It will cover the province, with approximately 500 from the Calgary area, 500 from the Edmonton area and 500 from the rest of the province.This survey is one of UNA’s Nursing Week initiatives.
Swine flu alert! Do you know where your N95 masks are?
Although only two cases of the swine flu coming out of Mexico have been reported in Alberta, the province’s medical officer of health has put the province on alert. “I have advised all medical officers of health in the province to increase surveillance, and implement protocols to minimize the spread of infection,” said Dr. Andre Corriveau.
Transmission routes for this virus are not proven but a 2007 report suggests influenza is transmitted by both airborne particles and droplets. Regular surgical masks may be sufficient for protection from droplets, however the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending N95 masks for swine influenza, “when entering the patient room.”
Alberta Health Services has committed to fit-testing all nurses with N95 masks, but the province-wide process is just beginning and there is no indication that a sufficient supply of the masks exist.
The agreement between the parties states that Employees who have not been fit-tested for an N95 respirator or are unable to achieve an effective facial seal shall not be expected to enter or provide services in an area where a suspected or confirmed case of swine influenza A has been identified. These Employees may be deployed to another area.
UNA’s Occupational Health and Safety Officer Janice Peterson has prepared a position statement on the topic, which is available on the UNA website: www.una.ab.ca.
Employers miss increment on shift premiums
Telus Sourcing Solutions Incorporated (TSSI) failed to add in the increase in shift premiums on April 1 for Calgary area employees, as did the former David Thompson Health Region payroll section. Both TSSI and David Thompson responded when the mistake was pointed out by UNA and the additional amounts owing will be paid in upcoming pay periods. Check your pay slip carefully to be sure you are getting correctly paid. Not all employer computers are correct all the time.
LTC providers push for big fee jump
Public Interest Alberta recently issued a report that shows long-term care companies are pushing the government to lift the cap on residents’ accommodation fees.
PIA says the companies want to charge a daily accommodation rate of at least $100 per resident, well above the province’s allowed maximum of $54.
Last year, the province announced it was freezing the number of full-service nursing home beds and instead is encouraging investment by the non-profit or private sector.
The government announced it would open 1,225 supportive living beds over the next three years for those who don’t need as much care.
National Nursing Week is coming up May 10 to 16th.
Celebrating Nurses and all health care workers. Heroes helping Albertans! UNA will be putting out a special message across the province during the upcoming National Nursing Week. UNA has purchased radio advertising in many centres, and we are supplementing this with weekly newspaper advertising in other centres and electronic billboards in Edmonton and Calgary.
We are also asking UNA members who are involved in Nursing Week events to tell us your stories, take pictures, and send it all in to Communications Officer Keith Wiley.
May Day and May Week
May Day is celebrated and recognized as the International Workers’ day, chosen over 100 years ago to commemorate the struggles and gains of workers and the labour movement. Most notable reasons to celebrate are the 8-hour day, Saturday as part of the weekend, improved working conditions and child labour laws. But these gains were not attained without the solidarity of workers. We recognize and commemorate May Day not only for its historical significance, but also as a time to organize and speak out around issues that are impacting working people today.
Calgary May Day Picket and Rally
The May Day event in Calgary is being held in front of City Hall, 800 MacLeod Trail, on Friday May 1 at 4:30 pm.
Edmonton May Day March and Events
The May Day March starts at 5 pm at Eastwood Community Park 11803- 86 St. to Alberta Avenue Community Centre. There will be life size puppets; one to represent an historical Alberta and one will for a contemporary worker. The march this year will be started with a community drum circle and will also have an Edmonton marching band as the march takes to the streets of Alberta Avenue.
After the march, the Notre Dame des Bananes Choir and other performers will take part in a tribute to the songs of Utah Phillips at the Carrot Café at 9351-118 Avenue.
Edmonton’s May Week Festival
In Edmonton, the May Week Committee organizes a whole week of labour arts and history events, like new music from Maria Dunn for a show on the GWG jeans factory in Edmonton. There’s a May Week Cabaret, art displays and much more. See the May Week Calendar and more at: www.mayweek.ab.ca/
April 28th International Day of Mourning has Canadian roots
Day of Mourning Events to commemorate workers killed or injured on the job happen every year in Edmonton and Calgary.
On April 28, 1984 the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) proclaimed the world’s first National Day of Mourning for workers killed or injured because of work. April 28 was chosen because it was the date the first Workers’ Compensation system was established in 1914. The purpose of the CLC initiative was to remember workers killed at work and to highlight the dangers workers experience just to earn a living for their family. By raising awareness, the CLC hoped to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities that occurred because of work.
In 1990, the Parliament of Canada passed the Workers’ Mourning Day Act - introduced by NDP MP Rod Murphy as a Private Member’s bill - to officially recognize April 28 as the National Day of Mourning.
Other countries quickly followed suit. In 2000, the International Labour Organization recognized April 28, and it became the International Day of Mourning.
Day of Mourning
The International Day of Mourning for Workers Killed or Injured on the Job is this Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Edmonton Day of Mourning Commemoration
6:30 pm Enterprise Square 10230 Jasper Avenue
Calgary Day of Mourning Commemoration
11:45 am City of Calgary Workers’ Memorial,
Edwards Place Park City Hall,
9th Avenue and Macleod Trail
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