February 25, 2005
Welcome to new UNA members at new Locals
A number of new groups of nurses have recently joined UNA. Welcome to the new members at:
• Hardisty Nursing Home, Local #234, in Edmonton
• Mackenzie Towne Care Centre, Local #401. in Calgary
• South Terrace Central Park Lodge, Local #234. in Edmonton
Three nursing students awarded UNA scholarships
Jennifer Caldwell was one of the first year nursing students to win the $750 UNA Nursing Scholarship this year. Jennifer brought in her daughter Keira with her to receive her award.
Jennifer is the daughter of Executive Board member Theresa Caldwell who nurses at the University of Alberta Hospital. She is in the Psychiatric Nursing program at Grant McEwan College in Edmonton.
The two other scholarship winners this year are Stacy Hartleib from the BScN program at Red Deer College and Susan Johnson in the Nursing Degree Program at Medicine Hat College. Stacy was sponsored by her Aunt, Dena VandenBrink who works at the Rockyview Hospital in Calgary. Susan was sponsored by her mother-in-law, Elaine Johnson who also works at the Rockyview.
February 28 – Day for awareness of Repetitive Strain Injuries
In Canada approximately 2.3 million people have experienced a repetitive strain injury (RSI) serious enough to limit their normal activities. To heighten awareness of the hazard Monday, February 28 is the 6th annual International RSI Awareness Day.
Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and back injury are some common examples of repetitive strain injuries that are caused by repeated movements and strains. Pain, swelling and loss of strength can worsen to become a crippling disorder that prevents people from leading normal lives.
Some workers’ safety organizations are calling for legislated protection to ensure good ergonomics and work organization to help prevent RSIs.
UNA begins organizational review with Local Executives
UNA is undertaking an organizational review to examine how to adapt to the extensive changes to Local responsibilities brought in by Bill 27. The law effectively combined local responsibilities for all of the nurses employed by each Health Region into one bargaining unit per Region. There are quite a number of separate UNA Locals in each Region which are now jointly responsible for the overall bargaining unit.
UNA has contracted with the Trade Union Research Bureau from Vancouver to conduct the review and provide recommendations for how the union can adapt. At its regular meeting in February the provincial Executive Board heard a report on the plan for the review from David Fairey of the Trade Union Rearch Bureau.
Fairey will be conducting surveys of Local Executives members over the next two months and will be conducting focus groups at the upcoming round of district meetings. A survey of general members is also in the works.
Alternative federal budget predicts huge surplus
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) has again released its Alternative Federal Budget, a document which has gained reknown for more accurately predicting government surpluses than the government does. The CCPA says the federal government will have an estimated $45 billion in surplus over the next three years – money that could significantly reduce poverty and inequalities in Canada and lay to rest overheated squabbles over cash transfers to the provinces.
The budget also shows how the federal government holds the fiscal capacity to dramatically reinvest in social programs by increasing the Canada Social Transfer (CST) by $13 billion over the next three years.
“It’s time to address crumbling federal-provincial-territorial relations and long-neglected social programs,” says Ellen Russell, senior economist with the CCPA.
“Investing in the nation’s social infrastructure is long overdue. After sitting on eight consecutive years of surplus budgets, with another $45 billion coming down the pike, any other action by this government would be inexcusable.”
Nicole Bownes new LRO
Carl Soderstrom leaves
UNA is welcoming the newest Labour Relations Officer, Nicole Bownes who began early in February. Nicole was on the provincial negotiating committee and is the former president of Local #196, Edmonton Community. Welcome Nicole.
LRO Carl Soderstrom who, after just a few months at UNA is returning to his former employer, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE). AUPE offered Carl a new position in their organization, Director of Labour Relations.
New Occupational Health and Safety Officer
Janice Peterson, who just last year moved from Labour Relations Officer servicing duties to the Education Officer position, has moved again, into the new Occupational Health and Safety Officer position. Before working at UNA. Janice put in a stint as coordinator with the Alberta Workers’ Health Centre and is extremely well-versed in health and safety issues. The Health and Safety Officer was created following the motion members passed at last October’s AGM to have a staff person dedicated to working on health and safety issues.
New Education Officer
Labour Relations Officer Tim Gough is UNA’s new Education Officer, replacing Janice Peterson in the position. Labour Relations Officer Tim Gough is UNA’s new Education Officer, replacing Janice Peterson in the position. While Tim was working as a Labour Relations Officer, he earned a Certificate in Adult Education two years ago and is looking forward to his new work at UNA.
U.S. considering law outlawing mandatory overtime for nurses
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a bill that would strictly limit the practice of forcing nurses to work overtime.
The proposed legislation would address the current nurse staffing crisis in the U.S. by strictly limiting mandatory overtime among nurses.
The American Nurses’ Association says mandatory overtime is “a dangerous practice that has contributed to a recent exodus of nurses from the nation’s hospitals and a decline in safe, quality patient care.”
The law would prohibit Employers from requiring a nurse to work more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period or for more than 80 hours in a two-week period.
Federal budget has something for everyone, except nurses – CFNU
The federal budget leaves it completely to the provinces to tackle the problems of retaining experienced nurses now on the job and recruiting students into nursing.
Cutting waiting times without a lot more nurses is impossible. But this budget offers no guarantees on nursing, says the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU) in their response to the budget.
“Who will replace the tens-of-thousands of nurses who will retire in the next five years? And how will Canada’s sick get the timely nursing they need?” asked CFNU President Linda Silas, RN.
ON THE LIGHT SIDE
A doctor had just delivered twins...a boy and a girl.
The head nurse brought them out for their father to see. He could hardly believe his good fortune.
The girl baby had a pink blanket wrapped around her and the boy baby was enclosed in a blue blanket.
He took one step forward just so he could touch the babies and believe they had finally arrived.
As he started to touch them the nurse took a step backwards and said,
“You can’t touch those babies. You aren’t sterile!”
With out missing a beat, he said proudly “You’re telling ME I’m not sterile!”
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