NOTICE TO MEDIA: AUPE holds information picket to protest unjustified firing, today

Posted January 26, 2012 in Health Care and tagged with care, continuing

EDMONTON – Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees at the Waterford of Summerlea continuing care facility will hold an information picket today to protest the recent firing of a coworker.

The information picket will run from 2:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. outside the Waterford of Summerlea at 9395 172 St. in Edmonton.

“AUPE believes this woman’s termination was unjustified,” said AUPE Vice-President Jason Heistad. “We’ve organized this picket to show our support for her and to show management that we will defend the dignity and livelihoods of our members.”

The staff recently voted to join AUPE and have served notice to the employer to begin negotiating their first collective agreement.

“The woman who was fired was instrumental in organizing her coworkers to join AUPE,” said Heistad. “We believe that is the real reason behind her dismissal.”

Because AUPE has filed a complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, union officials cannot comment on the specific details of the case.

“There are many workplaces in Alberta where workers are afraid to speak up for fair treatment and safe working conditions,” said AUPE President Guy Smith. “We want to send a clear message to employers that they cannot trample the legal rights of workers.”

The facility is owned by Chantelle Management Ltd, a Langley, B.C. based company that owns and operates continuing care facilities in B.C., Alberta and California. Its four facilities in this province are all under contract with Alberta Health Services.

AUPE represents 65 employees at the Waterford, including licensed practical nurses, health-care aides, kitchen staff and housekeepers.

AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, with nearly 80,000 members in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Nearly half work in the health-care field.

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For more information, contact:
Jason Heistad, Vice-President, AUPE: (403) 373-2532 (cel.)
Guy Smith, President, AUPE: 780-930-3301, or (780) 265-2294 (cel.)
Tyler Bedford, Communications, AUPE: (780) 930-3406