Medicine Hat – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) welcomes Nursing Care members at Masterpiece Southland Meadows Seniors Residence into the province’s largest union.
“These new AUPE members were seeing declines in their working conditions and wanted job protection and accountability from the employer, and they know that AUPE will stand up with them,” says AUPE Vice-President Karen Weiers. “While it normally requires patience to become union members, these new members have shown exceptional persistence through the organizing process in the middle of a global pandemic. Health-care workers know that AUPE will fight with them and for Albertans receiving care.”
Approximately 90 healthcare workers at Masterpiece Southland Meadows Seniors Residence in Medicine Hat took part in the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) ordered mail in vote and the certification has now been granted.
“These workers care deeply about their residents and want to provide quality care to them, but private for-profit employers often make decisions based on their bottom lines rather than care,” says Weiers. “Workers in continuing seniors care facilities know that their working conditions directly impact the living conditions of the residents they care for. We look forward to working with all of these new members to successfully negotiate their first collective agreement.”
AUPE represents over 90,000 workers across the province, over half of whom work in health care for public, not-for-profit, and private, for-profit employers.
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Karen Weiers is available for comment. For more information, contact Wayne Arthurson, Communications Officer, 780-432-1460.