For immediate release: Friday, July 30, 2004

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE — Employees at the Good Samaritan Society’s Clearwater Centre have voted to join the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

The approximately 50 auxiliary nursing care and general support service employees of the seniors’ continuing-care facility in Rocky Mountain House previously did not have a union.

“We welcome this group to our union,” said AUPE President Dan MacLennan. “AUPE represents more than 1,000 Good Samaritan Society employees at over 30 facilities and these employees clearly wanted to share in the benefits that are enjoyed by members of AUPE."

In addition, MacLennan noted, AUPE represents approximately 3,300 auxiliary nursing care and general support service employees of the David Thompson Health Region, which is a primary funder of the Rocky Mountain House long-term care facility.

“These employees have a broad community of interest with a very large number of AUPE members who either work in their region or who work for the same employer,” MacLennan said. “By being part of AUPE, they will now have input into the bargaining agenda.”

Voting, supervised by the Alberta Labour Relations Board, took place at the worksite on Wednesday.

Union services will be provided for the new members from AUPE’s Central Alberta Regional Office in Red Deer.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE