Health unions push back against mental health and addictions care shakeup in Alberta
CBC
Major health-care unions are raising the alarm about the Alberta government's planned transition to a new mental health and addictions agency, which will affect thousands of health-care staff across the province.
By early July, the province intends to move delivery of these services, currently under the health ministry, to a new organization called Recovery Alberta, which will be overseen by the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction.
It's the first of a number of shakeups to come as the provincial government follows through on its sweeping health reform plans.
The United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) claims the transition, which will impact 3,200 of its members — in settings ranging from hospitals and psychiatric facilities to provincial correctional centres and residential treatment facilities — violates its collective agreement.
The union filed an unfair labour practice complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board on Monday, alleging Alberta Health Services (AHS) failed to negotiate in good faith.
It claims AHS disregarded nurses' negotiated rights and the transfer was announced without consulting or sharing information with the union
The UNA, which is in the midst of bargaining, said that under a longstanding letter of understanding, members can choose whether to move to a new employer when there is a transfer of services or remain with AHS and move into a vacancy or displace someone with less seniority.
"We weren't consulted in terms of the announcement last week, and to be honest, it came as quite a shock to us," said David Harrigan, director of labour relations with UNA.
"They're already overworked and feeling unappreciated, and if they hear that the government's just going to run roughshod over their collective agreement rights, it's going to make it hard to retain. It's going to make it very difficult to recruit."
Harrigan said any changes made at the bargaining table now will transfer to Recovery Alberta.
On Tuesday, Finance Minister Nate Horner said he disagrees with claims of bad faith bargaining.
"I've seen the process behind the scenes. I can certainly say everything that I've seen has been very much in good faith. We want this to land in a good place," said Horner.
"We would like to see a deal done."
Meanwhile, the health authority said it will "continue to bargain in good faith" and it respects the bargaining process.
