Tuesday, May 28, 2013

11,000 Signatures and climbing

RED DEER – Close to 11,000 Keep Michener Open petition signatures have been collected since signature collection began just eight weeks ago.
“This is a major milestone in the fight to keep the Michener Centre in Red Deer open for the 125 vulnerable individuals who have called it home for decades,” said AUPE Vice-President Jason Heistad.
Keep Michener Open volunteers have collected 10,990 signatures so far. The vast majority of signatures are coming from Red Deer and more signatures are being gathered every single day. Signature collection will continue throughout the summer.
“Red Deer’s Progressive Conservative MLAs Mary Anne Jablonski and Cal Dallas should be very concerned. They need to listen to those who elected them. They need to stand up for their community or the community will elect people who do,” said Heistad.
“The amount of support to keep Michener open from all over Alberta has been tremendous. That support has only grown since the Redford government announced plans to axe $42-million from the $96-million budget for disability services,” said AUPE President Guy Smith.
More than 3,700 letters have been sent to Premier Redford, Hon. Frank Oberle, Mary Anne Jablonski, Hon. Cal Dallas, Danielle Smith, Raj Sherman and Brian Mason urging the government to keep Michener open.
Moreover, Red Deer city council, the Red Deer Public School Division, the town of Innisfail, the town of Springbrook, the town of Penhold, the town of Bowden, the town of Olds, local 054 (Edmonton Catholic Teachers) and local 80 (Red Deer Catholic Teachers) of the Alberta Teachers Association, the Society of Parents and Friends of Michener Centre, all Alberta opposition parties and many more organizations have come out against the closure of Michener.
“There are more communities and organizations out there about to make their opposition to the closure public as well,” said Heistad.
“The Redford government must address the concerns over its decision to close Michener,” said Heistad. “There is no shame in listening to the public. There is no shame in turning a wrong into a right. Keeping Michener open for the residents who currently reside there is the right thing to do.”
Michener Centre is home to some of the most developmentally disabled adults and seniors in Alberta. It has won numerous provincial awards for the services it provides.
In 2008, the Progressive Conservative government promised residents, families and guardians in writing that individuals currently living in Michener would never be forced out.
The Redford government abruptly announced the closure of Michener Centre in March without consultation of residents, families, guardians or staff.
The petitions will be tabled in the Alberta legislature and will become an official record of opposition to the Michener Centre closure.
All three opposition parties tabled around 8,500 signatures earlier this month.
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For more information:
Jason Heistad, AUPE vice-president: 403-373-2532
Tyler Bedford, AUPE communications: 780-930-3406

Thursday, May 09, 2013

Tuesday, May 07, 2013

Help Needed

Hi Everyone, we are needing folks to help with the door to door campaign, currently we have some wonderful folks doing this job, but they need more help. Please message Jenna Baynes , she will set you up with an area in Red Deer and any other supports you may need. And if you know someone who would like to do this, could you please refer to Jenna as well. Thanks everyone for you constant support! We do need to act quickly on this part of our campaign! In Solidarity Penny

Bargaining Update

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees General Service Bargaining Committee is planning a series of town hall meetings in May and early June to provide an update on the status of bargaining. The meetings, which will take place throughout the province, will be open to AUPE members employed directly by the government of Alberta. The town halls will be led by the members of the GSBC, which represents direct government employees in negotiations for a new collective agreement. GSBC town hall meetings will take place on the dates below in the following communities. Posters for each meeting will be available to download at a later date: Edmonton – 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 21 Shaw Conference Centre Hall A, 9797 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton Red Deer – 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 22 Sheraton Hotel, 3310 50 Avenue, Red Deer Calgary, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 23 University of Calgary MacEwan Conference Centre, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary

Thursday, May 02, 2013

March for Michener


A crowd of 300 Local 009 members and supporters gather outside the offices of Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jabonski in protest of the recently announced partial closure of Michener Centre.


Local 009 Chair Penny Bates can be seen in the upper left entering Jablonski's office where she and oranizer Jenna Baynes met with Jablonski to discuss the issues related to the closure.


Wednesday, May 01, 2013