EDMONTON – The United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) has filed a formal complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board that states the operator of the Devonshire Care Centre is bargaining in bad faith with UNA members at the Edmonton facility.
In a media release posted on its website Friday, the UNA explains the complaint “asks the Labour Relations Board to convene an emergency hearing by the weekend and order the employer to return to negotiations, to bargain in good faith and meet the union with the assistance of a provincially appointed mediator.”
15 nurses from the Devonshire Care Centre began strike action at 3:00 pm on New Year’s Eve.
One of the main issues is nurses’ salaries. The Devonshire nurses say their wages are about $9 less than those paid to nurses at other public and private sector care centres in the province.
The group of nurses voted in favour of strike action on December 14, but decided to wait until after Christmas to take action, out of respect to the residents in the care centre.
“There is some urgency in concluding this dispute,” UNA states in its filing to the Labour Board.
“The dispute is affecting elderly, frail residents of the centre and the union has heard reports that resident care is suffering.”
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The UNA says there have been reports of residents going without scheduled medical treatments, late administration of prescription medication, mishandling of narcotic drugs and unqualified staff being asked to administer medication. UNA adds on Friday it learned of night shifts being run without Registered Nurses, which it says is a violation of the Nursing Homes Act.
However, on Thursday, an inspection of the care centre by Accommodation Standards and a Health Quality Inspector found care is being maintained to provincial standards.
The review was conducted by Alberta Health Services, which has been monitoring care at the long-term facility since the nurses went on strike Dec. 31.
“We and our residents miss our nurses,” said Site Leader Karen Fitzgerald in a news release Friday. “But with the help of our team, we have been able to continue caring for our residents, many of whom are frail elderly.”
UNA’s complaint states in part Park Place Seniors Living Inc. has bargained in bad faith by consistently saying it would provide the union with an amended proposal and then failing to do so, cancelling scheduled bargaining because the union had served strike notice or for other reasons, and stating it was prepared to meet anytime and then refusing to meet.
In December, Park Place Seniors living, which owns the centre, said, in some instances, it was willing to continue negotiations but the UNA walked away. Owners also say Devonshire is not funded to provide the same wages offered on the provincial wage grid.
On Dec. 17, Vice-President of Operations Ian West, who was conducting negotiations on behalf of the employer, said Devonshire Care Home has developed a two-year contingency plan to ensure continued professional RN care. Under the Labour Code, staff may remain on strike for up to two years before they are required to return at the existing wage, or resign. This contingency plan has been shared with Alberta Health Services.
“As always, our first priority is the care of our residents,” West said. “Families can be assured that the comfort and safety of residents will be maintained.”
On Wednesday, UNA President Heather Smith shared her concerns in writing with Alberta Health Minister Fred Horne, Alberta Health Services (AHS) Chair Stephen Lockwood and AHS President and CEO Dr. Chris Eagle. UNA says Smith expressed concern about deteriorating conditions within the facility and the employer’s bargaining strategy.
Earlier this year, a strike involving other workers from the Devonshire Care Centre was averted when the province stepped in.
West has sent a letter to UNA, inviting them to end the strike and return to the bargaining table with “realistic goals for a first contract.”
Devonshire care centre provides around the clock care for more than 100 seniors, some of whom are high needs patients with conditions like dementia.
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