Southwest Calgary continuing care workers protest for higher wages

Staff members from Swan Evergreen Village continuing care facility in southwest Calgary, along with union representatives, protested outside the building Tuesday afternoon, sending a message to their employer about what they want in a collective agreement.

“We need fair wages, we deserve that,” said employee Valerie Moody. “We provide excellent care to our residents and to continue to provide that, we need fair wages, we need a contract.”

Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) vice president Bonnie Gostola says it’s been two years attempting to come to a first-time agreement with the privately run company. Along with addressing wages, employees want provisions like shift differential and overtime language addressed in the agreement.

“They are amongst the lowest paid caregivers in Alberta, and especially in the city of Calgary,” she said. “They make well below the Alberta Health Services (AHS) standard and most care facilities in Alberta actually get funding from Alberta Health Services that accommodates for the cost of employees working here and it’s at the standard that Alberta Health Services nursing care and general support services meet.”

Moody has worked at Evergreen Village for six years. She wants to see changes for staff, but says she stays for the residents.

“We care about them — it’s like having a whole bunch of grandparents,” she said. “I think there is about 180 residents here and they keep adding more residents, and we love to see them and get to know them, but they don’t keep adding more staff and wages.”

CityNews has reached out to Evergreen Village for an interview, and has also contacted Alberta Health Services’ and the Government of Alberta for a statement on the rally.

The union says negotiations have been sent to a mediator and there will be a meeting later this week.