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16 Tuesday, February 21, 2012 Vol. 7,Vol. No.7,2,No. Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Local AUPE holds wildcat strike General support staff stages protest outside Lamont Health Care At 4:45 p.m. the AUPE issued a press release from Smith stating: “I am now calling on all of our Even as Carol GSS members to return to Palichuk was writing out work immediately in messages on picket signs order to ensure they are for 26 members of the protected.” local chapter of the The agreement will Alberta Union of also “restart negotiaProvincial Employees tions” between the two (AUPE) who walked off sides with a binding their jobs at the Lamont mediation/arbitration Health Care Centre last process with labour arbiThursday, Feb. 16th, she trator Andy Sims. predicted the wildcat Addressing members strike wouldn’t last long. Smith stated: “It is imporPalichuk, the local tant for every one of you council representative, to know that you can go told the Lamont Leader back to work with your members of the general heads held high. Your support staff were followaction allowed us to ing suit behind their secure a process that will counterparts at the Royal be binding on AHS, and Alexandra Hospital who began picketing earlier Members of the local chapter of the AUPE were picketing outside of the Lamont Health Centre last Thursday we are confident that the arbitrator we selected will that morning. morning. They were protesting Alberta Health Services latest contract offer. maintain an atmosphere The AUPE members of respect and fairness in have been without a contract since last years, said they, (members), just want worker a $20 bill. the negotiations.” Also, on the scene near lunch time April, and recently 93 per cent rejected to be paid what they’re worth. “We’re While the strike did disrupt a numAlberta Health Services (AHS) offer. showing that we’re willing to fight for was Krista Brzezicki, a provincial execber of services at the health centre, utive representative for Local 43, who “We went back to the table after they our jobs.” chief executive officer Harold James The types of jobs the general sup- came to show her support, and also let offered us less money,” added stated: “We were able to manage fairly Palichuk. She said the original offer port staff perform include: laundry, members listen to an official statement well.” was a cost of living increase over three housekeeping, unit clerks, surgical on her phone from AUPE President James went onto say that a number years at zero per cent, two per cent, processors, maintenance, dietary, and Guy Smith. of surgeries had to be cancelled, and She also used her phone to order and two per cent; and the next offer recreational aides. some diagnostic tests had to be redi“It’s my second day on the job,” coffee and pizza for members who had was lower at zero per cent, two per rected, that food services were not discent, and zero per cent. Three years said Tiffany St. Jean, who never expect- congregated outside the health centre ago, members received an increase of ed to be taken off the front line and at the corner of 53rd Street and 52 rupted. Even though the strike was “stressonto the street. Despite the fact, St. Jean Avenue. They also marched down five percent per year over three years. ful” James said he did respect the genmain street later in the afternoon until is just learning her job in the housePalichuk also pointed out that AHS eral support staff’s right to strike, and Palichuk received a phone call around keeping and laundry area, she would has also cut back on benefits, which welcomed the workers back when they 4:30 p.m., calling members back to like to be treated like equals. was another reason why they left their returned to work. work. According to Palichuk, general supposts shortly after 10:30 a.m. Picketing “You don’t want these things to They were not legislated back to is “scary, but everyone is standing port staff are among the lowest paid happen, but it does happen,” added together. It’s encouraging to see mem- workers, despite the fact they are the work, but AUPE and AHS did reach an James, who respects the workers’ agreement to have health care employbers sticking together for the same backbone of the system. choices, and in turn, he hopes they There were several passing ees across the province return to work cause.” respect them. Jeannie Nearing, a service aide, motorists who agreed with their with a guarantee there would be no BY MICHELLE PINON Editor
who has been working at the health care centre for the past four and a half
actions, voicing their support to members. One motorist even handed a
legal action or workplace discipline taken against them.