AUPE to discuss hospital security concerns at Ponoka Hospital
PONOKA – More than 100 members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees are expected to meet at the Ponoka Legion tonight to discuss the security situation at the community’s hospital and other issues of concern to the union’s members.
The meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., is part of AUPE President Guy Smith’s ongoing campaign to mobile the union’s 73,000 members.
Media are welcome to attend the meeting at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 66, 3911 Hwy 2A, in Ponoka, said AUPE Vice-President Jason Heistad, who will chair the event.
“AUPE members are extremely concerned about the plan by Alberta Health Services to contract out Protective Services at hospitals and health facilities, including the hospital in Ponoka,” Heistad said.
“This decision will result in security being downgraded or removed entirely from many health facilities,” he said. “With these changes, staff at these facilities will no longer benefit from the presence of security which acts as a safeguard against violence and abuse against health care workers, patients, and other visitors.
“Our members, even those who don’t work in health facilities, are very concerned, and we hope to add our voices to the calls of many citizens to keep adequate security services at Ponoka Hospital and elsewhere in the province,” Heistad said.
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, with more than 73,000 members province-wide.
Close to 700 members of the union live in the town of Ponoka and more than 800 work in the community.
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For more information, call:
Jason Heistad, Vice-President, AUPE, 403-373-2532 (mobile telephone)