Wednesday, June 09, 2010

AUPE kicks off Save Our Seniors’ Homes campaign with rally at Red Deer Nursing Home



RED DEER – Alberta Union of Provincial Employees is launching the campaign to “Save Our Seniors’ Homes” today with a lunch hour rally at the Red Deer Nursing Home, beginning at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m.
Alberta Health Services has threatened to shut down the Red Deer Nursing Home this fall along with the Valley Park Manor long-term care centre. Together, the facilities provide Central Alberta with 216 long-term care beds.
“By helping Albertans speak up we’ve encouraged Alberta Health Services to correct bad decisions before, and we hope to do it again in the case of these long-term care facilities,” said AUPE President Guy Smith.
AUPE has launched a new website, www.saveourseniorshomes.com, which provides a downloadable petition form, a link to an online tool that helps people send their MLA a letter about the issue, and a connection to the campaign’s Facebook tool.
The union has also planned an advertising campaign in print and radio to support the online efforts and public events on the issue.
“It’s plain for anyone with an elderly relative to see that we don’t have enough long-term care beds –Premier Stelmach himself has said as much. That’s why we need to put a stop to this,” said Smith.
“Our senior citizens are our greatest generation. They shouldn’t be told to take a number when they have a medical need for long-term care. It makes one question Alberta Health Services’ commitment to public health care,” said Smith.
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For more information:
Guy Smith, President, AUPE – 780-930-3301 or 780-265-2294 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Director of Communications, AUPE – 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)
Photo: AUPE Vice President Jason Heistad poses with Judy Leblanc Chapter Chair of Local 044/002 at a meeting last week on the closing of Valley Park Manor and Red Deer Nursing Home.

Sunday, June 06, 2010

Government Services Bargaining Committee serves notice to bargain

EDMONTON – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees General Services Bargaining Committee sent the Government of Alberta notice to commence bargaining on May 27, setting in motion a new round of negotiations with the employer.

At a June 2 meeting of the GSBC at union headquarters in Edmonton, the committee said that the first set of bargaining dates for face-to-face negotiations with the employer would likely be scheduled for some time in September.

"Everyone on the committee is looking forward to working over the summer to finalize our bargaining position for the fall. Although some key issues such as workload and overtime are obvious, we still have plenty of work to do," said Staff Negotiator Jim Petrie.

The committee also decided to extend the availability of the bargaining survey in order to ensure that all members have the opportunity to contribute their views.

"We have had a good response to the survey so far, and are assessing the survey responses as we receive them," said Petrie.

"We're extending the survey because we don't want to shut the door on any member that wants to participate in the bargaining process but hasn't had time to complete the survey or wasn't aware of the survey," he explained.

The committee reminds members that the current collective agreement will remain in force for all Government employees during the bargaining period, and urges any who hasn't completed the bargaining survey to go to www.aupe.org and do so.

For more information:

Jim Petrie, Staff Negotiator – j.petrie@aupe.org, 780-930-3335

GSBC members:

Guy Smith, Chair
Fay Rever, Local 001
Jim Dick, Local 002 
Cec Cardinal, Local 003 
Dan Niven, Local 004
Mike Dempsey, Local 005 
Maureen Braun, Local 006
Jan Grant, Local 009
Margaret Minnife Cloutier, Local 010
Terrie Wispinski, Local 012

AUPE rallying Tuesday, June 8 to oppose closing of Red Deer seniors’ homes



RED DEER – Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members have planned a noon-hour rally to take place June 8 at the Red Deer Nursing Home in opposition to Alberta Health Services' plan to close the seniors' health care facility this fall.
Alberta Health Services also plans to close the Valley Park Manor. Together, the two nursing homes provide long-term care beds for 216 senior citizens.
"We want to raise the profile of this issue and help people in Red Deer pressure Alberta Health Services to do the right thing. We welcome anyone who supports proper health care for our seniors to join us," said AUPEPresident Guy Smith.
"When more than 200 seniors are regularly waiting for long-term care in Central Alberta, it's baffling that Alberta Health Services would close one long-term care bed, let alone 216," he added.
The rally will take place outside of the Red Deer Nursing Home (4736 – 30 Street), beginning at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 12:30 p.m.
Smith will be at the rally and available for media interviews. All AUPEmembers and concerned citizens in Red Deer are invited to take part in the rally.
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For more information:
Guy Smith, President, AUPE – 780-930-3301 or 780-265-2294 (cellular)
Mark Wells, Communications Officer, AUPE – 780-930-3406