Devonshire Care Centre staff will strike, Tuesday
EDMONTON – Close to 180 Licensed Practical Nurses, Health Care Aides, dietary, housekeeping, laundry and other specialized staff at Devonshire Care Centre will begin a strike against their employer, B.C.-based Park Place Seniors Living Inc., Tuesday, July 3 at 6:30 a.m.
The picket line will be set up at 1808 Rabbit Hill Road.
This brings the total number of strikes at private-for-profit continuing care worksites in Edmonton to three. Staff at Monterey Place in Calgary, have also been locked out since June 26.
“The employer refuses to offer employees at Devonshire a fair agreement. Park Place is threatening the quality of care residents deserve and staff want to give,” said AUPE President Guy Smith.
“Park Place refuses to pay staff the industry-standard wages they are funded with Albertans’ tax dollars to pay,” said Smith. “Park Place is boosting their profits by paying staff up to 30 per cent less than the provincial standard set by Alberta Health Services. That’s public money meant for seniors care, going into the pockets of an owner. It’s wrong.”
“Private-for-profit seniors care providers are exploiting their staff. It’s time for the government of Alberta to step in and take some responsibility for the outcomes of their funding policies,” said Smith.
The employer also refuses to offer Devonshire staff the health and wellness benefits they offer Park Place staff at their other continuing care worksites around the province.
“To separate this group from other staff and not offer them the same health and wellness benefits they provide other staff is not only discriminatory, it’s employer bullying,” said Smith.
“Park Place Seniors Living is driving workers away to worksites that will offer them industry-standard wages and benefits,” said AUPE Staff Negotiator Mac McNaughton. “With more staff leaving, the quality of care residents receive at Devonshire will decline.”
“Park Place needs to be a responsible employer and offer a fair collective agreement that will attract and retain workers to Devonshire Care Centre. The seniors and staff deserve that,” said McNaughton.
Park Place Seniors Living also owns Hardisty Care Centre, where 80 nursing employees, who are facing similar issues as Devonshire staff are facing, have been on strike for a first collective agreement since May 22.
Province-wide breakdown:
- Hardisty Care Centre in Edmonton, owned by Park Place Seniors Living Inc., on strike since May 22
- Revera Riverbend in Edmonton, owned by Revera Inc., on strike since June 5
- Monterey Place in Calgary, owned by Triple A Living Communities, locked out since June 26
- Devonshire Care Centre in Edmonton, owned by Park Place Seniors Living Inc., begins strike July 3
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees is close to 80,000 working Albertans. More than half work in public, private and not-for-profit health care in the province.
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For more information:
Guy Smith, AUPE President: 780-265-2294 (cel.)
Mac McNaughton, AUPE Negotiator: 780-221-1760 (cel.)
Tyler Bedford, AUPE Communications: 780-930-3406