PrintUNA supports Extendicare co-workers
Update: On Friday, July 5, Human Services Minister Dave Hancock established a Disputes Inquiry Board (DIB), delaying strike action by Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members for 45 days. UNA members at these Extendicare worksites are encouraged to wear “UNA supports our co-workers” buttons. Contact your UNA Local Executive to get a button.
More than 1,200 Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members expect to set up legal picket lines at 11 a.m. Monday in the largest seniors’ care strike in Alberta history at eight Extendicare facilities across the province.
AUPE served Extendicare (Canada) Inc. with 72-hour strike notice on Friday morning.
Many of the AUPE members, including Licensed Practical Nurses, Health Care Aides and other staff, work alongside UNA members at five of the sites where AUPE plans to strike: the Eaux Claires and Holyrood sites in Edmonton, plus Michener Hill in Red Deer, and facilities in Athabasca and Mayerthorpe.
AUPE members also plan to strike at two Extendicare facilities in Calgary, Cedars Villa and Hillcrest, and at the Fairmont Park facility in Lethbridge.
AUPE says the company is pushing its members to accept rollbacks in net earnings, drastic reductions in sick time, and the lowest number of named holidays in any health-care agreement in Alberta.
Ultimately, UNA believes the real issue in this situation and others like it is the quality of care for seniors living in nursing homes. Public funding that private companies like Extendicare receive from AHS should be used to support seniors with a stable, appropriate and fairly compensated workforce.
UNA members are encouraged to show support for their co-workers in their struggle for improved contracts by joining their AUPE co-workers on the picket lines during their breaks or days off.
UNA Local Executives should advise their members to work their normal shifts and to support their striking colleagues on their off-work time.
UNA members at worksites where AUPE members are on strike or locked out are encouraged to wear “UNA supports our co-workers” buttons. Contact your UNA Local Executive to get a button.
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