WATCH: Nurses from three long-term care facilities in the Capital Region took to the street today to protest major staffing realignments by Covenant Health. Tom Vernon reports.
EDMONTON – Hundreds of health care workers rallied outside the Edmonton General Hospital Wednesday to changes being made by Covenant Health.
Five full-time positions have been eliminated, and workers say many part-time employees have reportedly lost their jobs and have to reapply.
The changes affect 650 staff members at Youville Home, the Edmonton General Continuing Care Centre and St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital.
Helen Cyrus, a licensed practical nurse, says she’s been bumped back from full-time to 70 per cent, causing a significant downgrade to her salary and pension.
“Whether you work there long or work there short, it really didn’t matter to them. They were not committed to us, the people who worked there were committed. We worked there but we got nothing for that commitment,” says Cyrus.
“It makes people feel really bad and unappreciated knowing that Covenant doesn’t care.”
Covenant Health calls the change a necessary “realignment” to provide more assistance at peak care times. The health provider says it’s meeting all legislative requirements regarding the number of nursing hours required to provide continuing care.
The realignment has started and is expected to be completely in place by February.
WATCH: Kent Morrison is live at the rally outside the Edmonton General Hospital Wednesday
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