Workers at Edmonton continuing-care homes vote to join AUPE
EDMONTON – Staff at three small residential special care homes operated on contract for the Capital Health Region have voted strongly to join the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
The approximately 20 employees of Dynamic Quality Health Care Group Inc. had previously been without union representation, said AUPE Membership Services Officer Desiree Schell.
‘These employees are all women and mostly new Canadians who come from every corner of the world,” said Schell, who led the organizing drive. “They fought hard for the right to enjoy the benefits of being union members.”
The voting, supervised by the Alberta Labour Relations Board, took place on Friday, Dec. 14, in the employees’ workplaces.
While the group is a small one, the effort to organize them was part of a continuing effort by AUPE to extend the benefits of union membership to workers throughout the health care sector, said AUPE Union Representative, Organizing, Gil Laflamme.
Dynamic Quality Health Care is one of several companies that operate special care homes, small continuing-care facilities, on contract for the Capital Health Region. The homes, which are usually in a residential setting, provide personal care and support services to adults who are unable to live on their own.
Special care homes exist for people with physical disabilities, challenging behaviours and from cultural groups. They are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
AUPE was formally certified as the bargaining agent for this group of employees on Dec. 14.
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, with more than 68,000 members. Approximately 34,000 AUPE members work in front-line health care positions.
For more information, contact:
Desiree Schell, Membership Services Officer, AUPE, 780-930-3372 or 780-604-9663 (cellular phone)
Gil Laflamme, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930-3375 or 780-916-5100 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)