Health employees still believe it is unsafe to return to work at Remand Centre

Sunday, April 28, 2013: 2045h

The job action by AUPE Correctional Peace Officers continues. UNA has heard that Officers at Red Deer and Medicine Hat will return to work tomorrow, but it is expected that sheriffs and probation officers will join the illegal strike.

Nurses and other health care employees at the Edmonton Remand Centre remain off the job, having invoked their right to refuse dangerous work.

Today, a meeting was held involving RNs, LPNs, Unit Clerks, Service Aides, Paramedics, along with representatives of UNA, HSAA and AUPE. We met this afternoon for several hours with senior representatives of Alberta Health Services  to discuss the situation of the AHS employees working at the Edmonton Remand Centre.

AHS provided a revised plan (see earlier update), which they believed addressed the concerns we expressed at last night’s meeting.

The parties again had long, full and frank discussions of the challenges facing us. Staff members were very much of the belief that it would not be safe for them to enter the Edmonton Remand Centre to provide care for the offenders.

It became clear that there were two distinct concerns – the short term safety issues of working at a remand centre without Correctional Officers, and the longer-term relational issue surrounding working during a labour dispute.

By the end of the meeting it was agreed that: Employees continue to believe it would be unsafe for them to return to work at the Remand Centre. The employer will not, at this time, challenge that.

Effective tomorrow morning, staff scheduled to work will report to another site. They will either be assigned to work teams who will develop protocols to ensure the short-term safety or they will be re-deployed to other sites.

Staff members who are not scheduled to work tomorrow but wish to be assigned to the work groups, may alter their schedule and switch shifts in order to do so. (As it is voluntary, no additional premium will be paid.)

The senior leadership of the three unions will meet as soon as possible to attempt to address the relational issues.

This will be reviewed throughout the day Monday.

UNA will continue to closely monitor the situation at all sites. Should any member feel concerned about their health or safety, please contact your Local Executive immediately.

David Harrigan
Director of Labour Relations
United Nurses of Alberta