Albertans don't want to see a repeat of the Cargill meat-packing plant
EDMONTON - Front-line health-care workers are calling on Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, to restore Albertans’ faith in how the province is tackling health and safety inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Yesterday (Wednesday, May 6), Dr. Hinshaw said the Ministry of Health had started a process to do active audit inspections of continuing-care facilities. After seeing what happened at the Cargill meat-packing plant in High River, where an inspection was carried out remotely using a cellphone, Albertans need to be reassured,” says Bonnie Gostola, vice-president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), which represent more than 95,000 workers.
The union, whose members include Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), health-care aides (HCAs), housekeeping, maintenance and food workers at continuing-care facilities says news of continuing-care inspections is welcome, but fears they will not be good enough.
“Independent, reliable inspections of continuing-care facilities are a vital tool in saving lives of vulnerable Albertans,” says Gostola, who is chair of AUPE’s Occupational Health & Safety Committee. “These inspections must include workers and allow them to safely report their experiences without fear of reprisal by employers.”
AUPE is asking for assurances that:
- Inspections not be done remotely;
- They be unannounced inspections; and
- The results be made public immediately.
“Dr. Hinshaw also said she has been meeting with facility operators to discuss how to keep residents safe. We are offering to meet with her to tell her the perspective from the front-line heroes who are risking their lives every day.
“As the tragic situation at Cargill has proved, we cannot rely on operators alone to tell us what’s happening, especially in private facilities where the profit motive colours their opinions. If you want the whole truth, talk to the front-line workers,” she says.
Gostola also reiterated AUPE’s demand that Alberta Health Services (AHS) takes over running facilities that experience COVID-19 outbreaks or where there are violations of guidelines.
“When one private operator has failed, it is irresponsible to gamble and hand over operations to another private operator. AHS has the expertise and resources to do the job better,” says Gostola.
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For more information:
Celia Shea, Communications: 780-720-8122