EDMONTON – Eleven specialized workers at the province’s prized Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) are the latest victims of the UCP’s aggressive cuts to public services.
Yesterday (April 23), the Alberta Public Service Commission (APS) sucker-punched the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) with news that the provincial government is eliminating more positions at the institution that houses some of Alberta’s most treasured pieces of natural history and cultural heritage. The positions affected include Technologies, Scientific, and Information & Creative Technical Services.
AUPE Vice-President Susan Slade says this decision is a total surprise. “Back in October 2020, Kenney’s government notified our union of their plan to attack 930 direct government services jobs, but they didn’t warn us about cuts to the RAM’s Technologies and Scientific services.”
The union did however know about the looming loss of the museum’s Information & Creative Technical Services workers. According to the UCP’s October letter of disclosure, the Heritage Division of the Department of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women will now absorb their creative work, including graphic design and exhibit design.
“Nothing is sacred to these politicians, not even the relics that tell our province’s story,” adds Slade. “The art, education and attention to detail that cultural stewards bring to their work isn’t something to be tossed between departments like a trinket from the Dollar Store, or thrown out of the museum entirely. Our members hone these skills over time, and all Albertans benefit from the preservation of their knowledge.”
Slade says it’s bad enough that the UCP are already trying to introduce the profit motive into the RAM by privatizing 28 caretaking, maintenance, electrician, and plumbing positions, as well as power plant engineers and grounds supervisors. Eleven more job cuts will only hurt the museum’s ability to provide a quality experience for guests.
“Alberta’s politicians have long told us that privatization is society’s natural endgame or a sign of progress; this is a harmful myth that needs to go extinct,” says Slade. “But if there’s one thing that never gets old, it’s spending a rainy day in a well-curated, well-run museum that gives everyone equal access to our history. That’s what we’re defending when we challenge the job cuts that were announced today and back in October.”
For more information:
Celia Shea, Communications
780-720-8122