Notice to Calgary area media: Monday, June 9, 2003

FACILITY: Foothills Medical Centre
DATE: Wednesday, June 11, 2003
TIME: 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
PLACE: Behind FMC Auditorium

CALGARY – Huge crowds of health care employees are expected at barbecues planned Tuesday and Wednesday by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees at two Calgary hospitals.

The AUPE members will be proudly enjoying Alberta beef at the events, part of a province-wide series of barbecues organized by Alberta’s largest union that started at the Peter Lougheed Centre in Calgary last week.

The barbecues are part of a campaign by AUPE and its locals to win votes as the union to represent employees in health regions throughout Alberta. But AUPE members were also anxious to use the opportunity to show their support for Alberta’s beef producers during a difficult time, said AUPE President Dan MacLennan.

"Unions value solidarity and we felt this was a time to show our solidarity with Alberta’s beef producers," said MacLennan.

"A large number of our members in rural areas of Alberta are part of families that derive an important income from farming, including beef production," he explained. "AUPE is an Alberta union and we’re all in this together."

The votes have been called by the Alberta Labour Relations Board as a result of Bill 27, the bill passed by the Legislature in March to consolidate health region bargaining units into large region-wide locals.

As a consequence, in several regions, votes will take place this month and next in which members will have to choose which union will represent them in the much-larger region-wide bargaining units.

"By voting for AUPE, health region employees have the opportunity to be part of a union that is totally focused on Alberta law and Alberta labour relations," MacLennan said. "We take our role as Alberta’s largest union very seriously, with fully staffed offices to serve members in every region of the province, including here in Calgary."

AUPE has approximately 53,000 members province wide, about 21,000 of them in front-line health care jobs.

AUPE also represents provincial meat inspectors who help keep Alberta’s food supply safe.

AUPE barbecues in the Edmonton area are scheduled throughout the week of June 16.

For more information contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communication Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)

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