‘Recovery Alberta’ announcement leaves far more questions than answers, UNA president says

The Alberta Government’s announcement about the creation of a new mental health and addiction organization called Recovery Alberta leaves far more questions than answers for people across the health care system, says United Nurses of Alberta President Heather Smith.
 
“Every AHS nursing employee will be impacted directly or indirectly by this decision to hive off mental health and addiction services into a separate organization, and it appears there was a serious lack of in-depth planning,” Smith said.
 
Despite an information-sharing session with senior managers from AHS and the new Recovery Alberta organization this morning and a meeting between the AHS and UNA collective agreement bargaining teams this afternoon, few needed answers were provided, she said.
 
More bargaining is scheduled tomorrow, and Smith said UNA has asked AHS to return to the table with a full explanation of the government’s plans for the transition or to be prepared to bargain changes to the collective agreement required to manage the change.
 
UNA will publish the government’s and the employer’s answers as soon as they are made available to us.
 
While a Frequently Asked Questions document provided to affected unions after the government’s announcement states that “it is business as usual for all AHS Addiction and Mental Health and Correctional Health Services staff, service advisors, contractors, and partners,” the impact of this confusing and potentially chaotic change is not evident.
 
AHS says its more than 3,200 employees represented by UNA who now work in Addiction and Mental Health and Correctional Health Services are scheduled to transition to employment by Recovery Alberta by July.
 
UNA advises all members to check frequently with the UNA website or their UNA app for updates on the transition process.
 
According to a second FAQ document provided to unions representing affected members this morning, “Recovery Alberta employees will continue to access current systems and processes related to their employment.”
 
Employees who are union members were advised “your current union and collective agreement will transfer unchanged to the new organization.”
 
However, it is not clear how this will work and how it can be possible without negotiated changes to the collective agreement or government interference.
 
In a letter sent this morning to UNA Labour Relations Director David Harrigan after the government’s public announcement, AHS Executive Director of Labour Relations Lee McEwan listed the following work settings where he said affected employees work:
 
- Standalone psychiatric facilities
- Acute care hospital staff working in AMH programs or services
- Virtual staff working on AMH programs or services such as the Virtual Opioid Dependency Program and Access Mental Health
- Community outpatient clinics and outreach programs
- Detox and residential treatment facilities
- Provincial Corrections facilities
- Corporate office settings
 
All AHS correspondence and documents received by UNA this morning have been posted with this statement.