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AUPE News & Updates
Member Updates
Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003
More than 100 take part in AUPE information picket about St. Michael's
cutbacks
EDMONTON — More than 100 AUPE members and supporters were on an
information picket line at St. Michael’s Long Term Care Centre
Tuesday to protest against cutbacks.
AUPE President Dan MacLennan, who was on the picket line, said the event
shows the strength and solidarity of
AUPE’s members, and how much they care about the patients in their
care.
“AUPE members, residents and their families are all telling the
health region and the government what they think of these cutbacks,”
MacLennan said. “Today’s protest sends that message clearly.”
Licensed practical nurses, nursing aides and other AUPE members from
the northeast Edmonton continuing care facility, plus supporters, marched
during the two-hour event.
A planned cut of $200,000 from the facility’s budget is bad news
for both residents and staff, MacLennan told reporters from several
TV stations at the information picket.
The cut in funding for St. Michael’s will result in some staff
layoffs, cutbacks in hours for other workers and employee fatigue and
burnout, he said. Many shifts will be without a qualified licensed practical
nurse on staff.
“These changes could result in reduced care for the residents,”
he said.
“Alberta’s seniors deserve better than this,” said MacLennan.
Click
here for photos from the picket
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