Front line hospital workers involved in Monday morning job action

President Guy Smith says in a news release that anger has been building among members for months and that the recent announcement from the health minister of 11,000 job cuts in the middle of a pandemic is the last straw for them.

The union represents about 58,000 health-care workers, although it wasn’t immediately clear how many of those workers have walked off the job.

Smith says the workers are committed to making sure patients remain safe during any dispute.

In a release, Alberta Health Services says all AHS sites remain open and that contingency plans are being enacted to “redeploy non-union staff, including managers, wherever possible to cover for missing staff. AHS is monitoring the situation closely to try to mitigate patient care interruptions.”

“We are doing all we can to address any interruptions to patient care caused by this illegal job action. Our focus is on ensuring patients continue to receive the care and treatment they need.”

Some surgeries and ambulatory care clinics are being postponed, says the release.

AHS also says it has made an application to the Labour Relations Board today to formally ask the board to direct the affected employees back to work.

The Alberta Federation of Labour says it and all of its affiliated unions from both the public and private sectors will join picket lines across the province.

“The battle to defend our public health care system and push back against the bullies in the Kenney government has begun,” says Gil McGowan president, Alberta Federation of Labour.

In a statement, Finance Minister Travis Toews says AHS is taking immediate action with the Alberta Labour Relations Board to end this illegal activity and those responsible will be held accountable.

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley says the wildcat strikes occurring across Alberta are deeply concerning and the says Premier Jason Kenney is to blame.

“The UCP has repeatedly introduced illegal pieces of legislation designed specifically to attack frontline healthcare workers. In contrast, our NDP government maintained labour peace over our four-year term while containing costs.

“It is Jason Kenney who has caused widespread chaos in our healthcare system — the responsibility for this lays squarely at his feet.”

by Brian Konrad

Front line hospital workers involved in Monday morning job action

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