Bargaining continues
Your bargaining team met with Revera to continue negotiations last week (Feb. 11 and 12). However, we were unable to sign off on any articles because the employer is only interested in cutting corners, even at the risk of driving down the quality of care they deliver residents.
Over the two days of bargaining the company proposed a number of attacks on our working conditions. Two of the provisions they’re seeking to roll back include our job security and our seniority rights: protections we worked hard to achieve in order to retain quality staff.
Revera is also aiming to erode our paid sick leave, forcing some of the lowest paid health-care workers in the province to pick between working while sick or taking leave without pay. This is unfair to staff and residents, who deserve to live in a clean and healthy home.
Lawsuits against Revera
In Ontario, families of continuing-care residents at numerous homes have filed a lawsuit against the companies that run them for neglect and abuse of residents, which has, they allege, led to deaths. Revera is among the companies named.
Below you can watch and read a number of news story about the issue as well as the broader issue of working short in the health-care industry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9OlN_gTJcA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-gPUOPV8pw
https://tellthemtocare.ca/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CppkSWRdVTo
Moving Forward
Now more than ever it’s important that as the front-lines of Alberta’s healthcare, we protect the people who depend on a quality continuing care system. This is why we’re pushing for job security, sick leave with pay and other improvements to our working conditions – when we’re protected, residents are protected.
When we’re short-staffed, residents suffer. When we’re burnt out, residents suffer.
As we move forward in bargaining, we will continue to make this clear to Revera. We’ve scheduled our next meetings for May 21 and 22 – if you have any questions, concerns or ideas between now and then, please reach out to us. We’re stronger because we work together.
AXR BARGAINING TEAM
Saramma Ammanethu (South Terrace)
Michelle Dunlop (Jasper Place)
Nahel Rea (Miller Crossing)
ALTERNATES
Meghan Savage (Jasper Place)
Donna Berthelot (Miller Crossing)
Gustavo Leung (South Terrace)
AUPE RESOURCE STAFF
Jason Rattray, Negotiations | j.rattray@aupe.org
Celia Shea, Communications | c.shea@aupe.org
Michelle Szalynski, Organizer | m.szalynski@aupe.org