For immediate release: Thursday, May 29, 2003

CALGARY – Pressure from AUPE and other unions has resulted in a decision to clean up a unit at Foothills Medical Centre where employees complained of poor air quality.

Alberta Human Resources and Employment announced May 28 that test results from Unit 27 at Foothills, the hospital’s renal dialysis unit, had shown the Stachybotrys chartarum mould is present in three areas of the unit’s ceiling.

The problem came to light when members of AUPE and other unions working in the unit complained about poor air
quality. The unions pressed for a study to determine the nature and extent of the problem.

In its May 28 news release, the provincial government department said the problem will be cleaned up. "When the cleanup is complete, further tests will be conducted to ensure ongoing indoor air quality."

AUPE Union Representative Sophie Parsons, a specialist in workplace health and safety issues, said the announcement shows how unions help ensure safe and healthy workplaces for union members and all working people, as well as the patient population that they serve and the public in health care facilities.

"It was a proactive approach by union members that got the ball rolling on solving this problem," Parsons said.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees is Alberta’s largest union, with more than 53,000 members province-wide and more than 21,000 who are front-line health care workers. AUPE represents all general support services and auxiliary nursing care staff at the Foothills Hospital.

Click here to read the Alberta Human Resources and Employment news release.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Sophie Parsons, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930-3347 or 780-983-9222 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)