Alberta health-care workers rally in Calgary for better job conditions

Heavy rain didn’t deter Alberta Union for Provincial Employees (AUPE) from gathering in Calgary.

AUPE members rallied outside three Carewest health-care centers in Calgary, hoping to sign a new contract with the province to secure better pay and working conditions.

The union says it has been without a contract for over a year, but there aren’t the only issues its members face.

“Not having a contract doesn’t improve the working conditions,” says Sandra Azocar, AUPE president,

“It doesn’t address the issues that we’re bringing attention to, which are short-staffing, chronic short-staffing, that impacts the level of care.”.

View image in full screen

Earlier this month, the union launched its Continuing Care Campaign, highlighting what it calls a crisis in seniors care.

“We have members that have to have two or three jobs just to make ends meet and then come to work in this facility” Azocar says.

Get daily National news

Get daily Canada news delivered to your inbox so you'll never miss the day's top stories.

Sign up for daily National newsletter Get Started

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“There needs to be some recognition of the value of the work that they do. This is important work. It’s essential work so that seniors can get the care that they need.”

The union says it hopes to achieve parity to its Edmonton contracts for its members in Calgary.

“We are ready to bargain contracts that are similar to the contracts that our members received at Capitol Care in Edmonton, which is a similar facility,” Azocar adds.

In a statement to Global News, Carewest says, “While we support the ability for union members to rally and share their views, we cannot comment while we are actively bargaining with AUPE.”

The union is expected to head to the bargaining table on Monday, June 8.