A whole lot of nurses rallied Saturday throughout a number of cities in Alberta to protest working situations in hospitals.
Attendees of the ‘Day of Action’ rallies say workers are burning out amidst dwindling sources.
The rallies came about as contract negotiations proceed between the union representing nurses and Alberta Well being Servies.
Greater than 30,000 members of the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) Affiliation have been with no contract since April.
They rejected a suggestion late final 12 months. Mediation resumed this week.
Marie-Therese Mageau, president of Native 301, stated she and her colleagues have been coping with an under-resourced healthcare system for the previous couple of years.
“We’re really concerned about the lack of nurses,” Mageau stated. “We need to ensure we have a fair contract to encourage more nurses to come to Alberta.”
Mageau joined different healthcare employees exterior Edmonton Normal Persevering with Care Centre and known as on the province for higher wages and dealing situations.
“We have not accounted for the increased population growth. Our emergencies are full and overflowing. Our bed spaces are not enough to deal with those who need to remain in the hospital for care,” she stated.
Occasions had been additionally held in Calgary, Lethbridge, Drugs Hat, Olds, Banff, Bonnyville, Pink Deer, St. Albert, Slave Lake and Two Hills.
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In Calgary, nurses raised issues over the restructuring of Alberta Well being Providers and a staffing scarcity.
“Nurses are being asked to do more and more with less and less, and they want to stand up and demand respect,” UNA second vice-president Karen Kuprys advised World Information.
“Nurses are facing a severe staffing shortage. A staffing crisis actually. We’re seeing many facilities that are having to have temporary closures. Those closures are getting longer and longer.”
The “Day of Action” rallies coincided with the anniversary of a historic strike motion that began Jan. 25, 1988, when UNA nurses walked off the job. The unlawful strike lasted 19 days.
“It was illegal to take a strike vote. It was illegal to go on strike. But it was an indication of just how passionate and angry nurses were,” UNA president Heather Smith stated.
Smith stated the situations skilled now are just like what her members encountered in 1988.
The Alberta authorities says it won’t remark presently because the matter is between Alberta Well being Providers (AHS) and the union.
In a press release, a spokesperson for the well being supplier stated “AHS is committed to the bargaining process and values its dedicated employees who deliver high-quality patient care. We have no further comment at this time.”
