Healthy Debate

On February 17, 2010, the ALRB ruled that HSAA is now the union of record for EMS employees of Alberta Health Services (AHS), and former professional employees of the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commisssion (AADAC), in accordance with provincial legislation.

CUPE has applied for a stay, and an injunction of that decision, while it launches an appeal with the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench.  While HSAA respects CUPE’s right to access legal avenues, EMS employees cannot be left in limbo with regard to their rights in the workplace.

HSAA is ready to welcome EMS and former AADAC employees to full participation within our union, and to enjoy the benefits of membership.  We have arranged with Alberta Health Services to put all but the most critical labour relations matters on hold until the ALRB and the Court of Queen’s Bench decide on these two applications.  The nature of a ‘stay’ and ‘injunction’ are such that they will normally be heard quickly. 

In anticipation that the decision of the ALRB will be upheld, we have scheduled information meetings for each of the EMS units that are the subject of the decision.  We will also arrange opportunities for incoming members from AADAC to get to know HSAA as soon as we know for certain that the ruling will stand.  In the unlikely event that an injunction is granted, meetings would be cancelled.

 We have been very patient with the rhetoric that has accompanied the process of consolidating EMS into Alberta Health Services.  We have chosen not to engage in a ‘tit for tat’, preferring to stand on our record.  And that record is one of enhancing the benefits and rights of members, wherever they happen to work.  Suggestions that HSAA will bargain away rights are as irresponsible as claims that any union can guarantee provisions forever. 

I encourage you to visit our union’s website at www.hsaa.ca for further information regarding upcoming orientation meetings for new EMS members, and look forward to meeting you at one of them.

In Solidarity,

Elisabeth R. Ballermann

President

HSAA member Susan O’Connor begins chasing her dream of capturing an Olympic gold medal today, Feb. 16, at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

As you may have read in the most recent edtion of HSAA’s internal magazine, Challenger, Susan, a Respiratory Therapist at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, is representing Canada in women’s curling, as a member of the Cheryl Bernard foursome.

O’Connor, Bernard and company will face Switzerland today in the opening round of women’s curling competition.

HSAA member Mike Douglas will experience his first taste of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games Thursday afternoon, when the skeleton competition kicks off.

An XRay Technologist at Foothills Hospital, Douglas finished in 15th spot overall at the 2008 Skeleton World Championships.

We encourage you to cheer on our HSAA Olympians by posting a note to the Message Board below, as Susan and Mike chase their dreams throughout the 2010 Winter Games.

“Eh! O’ Canada Go!”

Well, the budget was a pleasant surprise for health care. With the deficit taken care of, and the base funding raised, Alberta Health Services now has as much money as it has been spending, plus 6 percent for inflation and
population growth.

I had a conversation with Dr. Duckett at the Legislature, to get his response, which was characteristically restrained. He reiterated that AHS will continue to try to limit job losses. So even with this large infusion
of cash, he is not prepared to commit to filling some of the gaping holes.

He did say that ‘vacancy management’ will end April 1. So our relief must be tempered.

It is clear that the government heard from Albertans the dissatisfaction with the level of services. The Join Together Alberta campaign has been a significant factor in getting that message across. Many of you have been to
the Town Halls and other events. Congratulations, but we cannot now go to sleep.

On Friday I will be meeting with Minister Zwozdesky, and will hopefully get a better sense of his approach to the portfolio.

The new health money is, of course, welcome. But there have been cuts to other social programs, including income support and child intervention.
Those cuts are not insignificant, and will create demands for the health care system. It will be important to continue to support the other sectors that make up the fabric of our communities.

Haiti’s misery continues. Please remember them, including when you make decisions about your local unit funds. These do not carry forward into our next fiscal year, wish starts March 1.