EDMONTON – Health care workers are facing a staffing crisis and Albertans are bearing the cost.
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) health care leaders, working in the health care sector stood their ground at the Queen Elizabeth II Building today to call on the government to hire, recruit and retain more health care workers to fix the ongoing staffing crisis.
Health care workers are in dire need of support from the province to alleviate the pressure workers are feeling in chronically understaffed hospitals, ensure access to services in rural communities, and keep delivering the high standard of care Albertans deserve.
“We want Alberta Health Services to be working with us, not against us,” said Local 43 Chair Judy Fader, representing nursing care workers in northern Alberta.
“Without meaningful actions to hire, recruit and retain staff in Alberta’s public health care system, the province will continue experience service disruptions due to issues like short staffing, bed closures, reduced emergency room hours which puts Albertans at risk.”
Even before the pandemic, short staffing has plagued the long-term care sector.
“Now, instead of hiring more staff, improving wages, and working conditions, the private sector of our continuing care system is making matters worse by continuing to not offer full-time positions in favor of bringing in contracted agencies to staff the facilities.
“Our members are forced to continue working two or more jobs to make ends meet while for-profit employers continue to benefit off our backs,” said Local 47 Secretary Judith Cseresnyes, representing members working for private long term care providers.
Working short and heavy workloads – combined with a growing population – are pushing workers to the brink of exhaustion, burnout and illness.
AUPE Vice-President Sandra Azocar said workers feel there is an expectation with some rotations to have zero work-life balance.
“There is a high expectation or demand to put in overtime – workers know the need is there but they’re also tired – it’s just not sustainable, nor is it fair to the workers and their families,” Azocar said.
“AHS has a Human Resources department that is responsible for hiring, recruiting and retaining health care workers, so its time they do their job, stop cutting corners and contracting out these important jobs – especially in rural areas that need long-term solutions,” Azocar added.
The government must invest in staffing, or the crisis will get worse, wait times will get longer and Albertans will suffer.
“When there's not enough staff on deck, we know patient care suffers. It’s an unintentional consequence but that’s the reality we’re facing,” said Jesse Philp, Local 44 chair, who provides nursing care in the central region.
“That’s why we’re speaking out today and demanding action to hire, recruit and retain staff so frontline workers can keep delivering quality public health care to Albertans.”
Local 58 Chair Loree Preete, representing southern area general support services (GSS) members, said health care workers had to work through a pandemic, knowing the government’s agenda of cuts and privatization was looming in the background.
“We saw what happened to the approximately 300 retail food service workers, who were laid off and replaced by contract workers not long ago,” Preete said. “And they're still coming for 11,000 more of us to cut throughout the province after getting Albertans through the pandemic.”
To make sure the issue of working short remains front and centre in the upcoming election campaign, AUPE members will be holding the following rallies on Monday, May 1 from 11:30 am to 1 pm:
- Edmonton: Legislature Building, 10800 97 Ave NW
- Red Deer: Red Deer Regional Hospital, 3942 50A Ave
- Calgary: Foothills Medical Centre, 1403 29 St NW
- Lethbridge: Provincial Building, 200 5 Ave S
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