As dozens of health care aides and nurses have staked out picket lines after walking off the job at a private nursing home, the province is urging the striking workers to return to the negotiating table – but says it won't step in unless the situation starts to negatively affect patients.
More than 100 licensed practical nurses and health care aides who work at Hardisty Care Centre (6420 101 Avenue) began their strike at 7 am Tuesday.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) told CTV News wage disparity between workers at other Alberta Health Services-run facilities and workers at the nursing home is behind the strike.
An AUPE spokesperson said those Hardisty employees on the picket line are paid between 20 and 30 per cent less than AHS employees and staff at other private facilities, despite taxpayer funding provided through AHS.
"I guess their profit margin is more important to them than having a good, strong sustainable workplace to provide quality care to residents," said AUPE President Guy Smith said Monday.
"Our members don't want to go on strike but they've been forced into this situation."
Employer Park Place Seniors Living says to agree with what AUPE is asking for would mean layoffs and reduced quality of care for residents at Hardisty.
"We have told this union for us to do that we would have to lay off a number of members," Ian West, vice president of operations with Parks Place Seniors Living said Monday.
"That would mean there are less people providing less service for residents who need it."
West also argues that the company is just offering competitive rates.
"Private operators can operate at a lower cost, so I guess the taxpayers of Alberta need to ask why the government is paying 20 per cent too much," West said.
Park Place said Tuesday the company has more staff than usual on site, and a contingency plan for staffing in place for the next 90 days.
On Tuesday, Minister of Human Services Dave Hancock said as long as the residents of the nursing home are safe, the province won't step in.
"It is a private sector dispute, but it does involve people's safety," Hancock said. "We have an obligation to ensure safety is not at risk."
Tuesday's strike and lockout notice comes after a year of failed negotiations and affects the majority of workers at Hardisty.
Registered nurses are also employed by Park Place, but the AUPE said they are under a different union, and are working – however, they will not be taking on additional tasks as a show of support to striking workers.
Park Place had rejected two independent recommendations previously; one of those recommendations would see workers earn the same as their AHS counterparts in three years.
Parks Place says it wants to move to voluntary binding arbitration but says union officials haven't agreed to that.
Meanwhile union officials say they would come back to the bargaining table at any time but will not prevent the strike from taking place Tuesday.
"If we have to bargain while we're on the picket line, we'll do that," Smith said Monday.
With files from Serena Mah
