(Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Nurses protest proposed wage cuts outside Chinook Regional Hospital

Aug 11, 2021 | 2:37 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – “We’ve had the stress of working through a pandemic where we put our lives on the lines, we stress about going home to our families and sharing an unknown virus with our families, and then to have this disrespectful proposal put forward just adds to the stress.”

Margie Emes, President of United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) Local 120, helped to lead an information picket outside Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge on Wednesday.

At least 100 people took part, comprising of nurses with UNA as well as supporters from a variety of other groups. Similar demonstrations were held in 25 communities across the province.

Finance Minister Travis Toews recently proposed that UNA members take a three per cent wage rollback, citing economic factors.

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“We are facing a $93 billion debt, and we spend more than half of the province’s operating budget on public sector compensation,” said Toews in a statement prior to the information pickets.

“We must continue to find efficiencies across the public sector – it’s an essential piece to restoring fiscal health and ensuring sustainable public services.”

Emes says she understands the financial concerns facing the government, but she does not believe that what they are asking for is unreasonable.

“[Toews] loves to point out that nurses make 5.6 [per cent] more than other nurses in other provinces. However, Albertans overall make 15 per cent more than other Canadians do in other provinces, and he [Toews] himself makes 22 per cent more than other politicians in our country. It’s really insulting to think that we need to make all the sacrifices – we haven’t had a pay raise in a number of years.”

Lethbridge-West MLA and Opposition Finance Critic Shannon Phillips attended the protest, saying she does not believe that Toews knows what he is doing when it comes to balancing the books.

“Mr. Toews has a funny idea of finding efficiencies and being a good steward of Alberta’s finances. This is a person who has overseen the largest deficits in Alberta’s history, the massive amounts of borrowing, and to finance what? Giveaways to already-profitable corporations to the tune of $4.5 billion dollars and in excess of that.”

Nurses in Alberta have been without a contract since the beginning of 2020.

Last week, AHS proposed informal mediation to UNA, but Toews claims that “union leadership declined the offer.”

Emes, however, states that UNA wanted to continue talks, but it was AHS who backed off. Either way, she says that since informal mediation is not binding, it is merely a stall tactic from the province.

Phillips adds that negotiations to date have largely been unrespectful, believing that respect on the government’s side is key in finding a deal that works for all parties.

Toews concluded his statement by saying that, as bargaining continues, his hope is that “unions and their employers can quickly come to a settlement that works for everyone, and is aligned with the fiscal realities we are facing.”