Wildcat strike in Calgary and Edmonton over
Posted Feb 16, 2012 10:17 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Alberta Health Services has reached a deal to go to binding arbitration with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
Hundreds of support-staff workers walked out in Edmonton and Calgary health facilities to protest what they said, were insulting offers in contract talks.
In Calgary, staff at the Peter Lougheed Centre and Rockyview Hospital were engaged in the illegal strike.
Health officials say dozens of elective surgeries had to be cancelled because of the walkouts by members of AUPE.
Chapter 11 Chair Gaye Kingdon tells 660News, the goal is to have the province return to the negotiating table to work out an equitable contract, since their previous contract expired March 31, 2011.
“We’re just trying to get back what we lost and part of that is they only want to have a 12 hour difference between shifts,” said Kingdon.
That’s down from 15 hours.
She says it’s also about making sure benefits and pay reflect increases to the cost of living.
These walkouts were organized by local chapters, not the AUMA.
