Nurses, teachers, health sciences professionals, and public employees urge government to listen to majority of Albertans

Edmonton - Labour leaders are standing up for the majority of Albertans who do not want to see public services cut on March 7.

At a joint press conference on Monday, March 4, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, the presidents of all five public sector unions and the Alberta Federation of Labour will urge Alison Redford to listen to Albertans, most of whom want their public services protected.

When: 10 AM, March 4, 2013

Where:River Valley Room, Lobby LevelCrowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe Hotel10111 Bellamy Hill Rd NW, Edmonton

Who:Canadian Union of Public Employees, Alberta President Marle RobertsUnited Nurses of Alberta, President Heather SmithAlberta Union of Provincial Employees, President Guy SmithHealth Sciences Association of Alberta, President Elisabeth BallermannAlberta Teachers' Association, Vice President Mark RamsankarAlberta Federation of Labour, President Gil McGowan

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Olav Rokne, AFL Communications Director at 780-289-6528 (cell) or via email orokne@afl.org.

Nurses, teachers, health sciences professionals, and public employees urge government to listen to majority of Albertans

Edmonton - Labour leaders are standing up for the majority of Albertans who do not want to see public services cut on March 7.

At a joint press conference on Monday, March 4, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Edmonton, the presidents of the province's six largest public sector unions and associations urged Alison Redford to listen to Albertans, most of whom want their public services protected. The Alberta Federation of Labour, Alberta Teachers' Association, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, Canadian Union of Public Employees-Alberta, Health Sciences Association of Alberta and United Nurses of Alberta have decided to join their voices together to send a clear message about the upcoming budget.

Polling, conducted by Environics from February 14-21, shows that more than 70 per cent of Albertans reject the idea of cuts to public services. More than three quarters of those polled agree that there should be an increase on taxes for the wealthy and corporations.

Far from thinking the government should cut public services, the majority of Albertans believe we should be investing more in health care, education, and other services. Albertans see a growing province, a booming economy, soaring corporate profits and low unemployment, and they're confused as to why health care, education, and community services still don't have the resources they need to do the job right.

Albertans were clear in their message that they support the need for some increased revenues, but that they reject the idea of a sales tax. Only 17 per cent of those polled were in support of a provincial sales tax, 72 per cent said they would be in favour of returning to a progressive income tax, and 77 per cent were in favour of increased taxes on corporations and those who make more than $200,000 per year.

When asked about spending, respondents identified several priorities: Creating a provincial strategy for long-term care for seniors was a high priority for 70 per cent of respondents, while protecting publicly-funded health care against for-profit health care was identified as a high priority by 57 per cent. Nearly half of respondents said that hiring more teachers and support staff for elementary and secondary schools was a high priority.

The government is trying to justify massive cuts to health care and education by saying oil prices have dipped. Albertans aren't buying it. Albertans know a growing economy needs adequate investment in public services.

Because labour leaders were concerned about the direction that budget discussions had been going, they commissioned a poll by Environics Research Group to find out what Alberta are looking for. The poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 Albertans, is considered to have a margin of error of +/- 3.1, with a 95% confidence level.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Olav Rokne, AFL Communications Director at 780-289-6528 (cell) or via email orokne@afl.org.

Fact sheet–Revenue, spending & public sector wages (Revised March 2013)Fact sheet–Oil companies' profits (March 2013)

Podcast of today's conference

You have to hand it to the Klein Tories - they sure know how to spin a tall tale. Take the case of Bill 27, for example, their controversial new amendment to the Labour Relations Code.

The Tories say the Bill is little more than housekeeping - that it's simply designed to streamline administration as the province moves from 17 regional health authorities to seven.

Most mainstream media sources have bought into this version of the story. Fewer complicated union contracts? Less red tape? Great! But the reality of Bill 27 is much more sinister than the fairy tale being told by the government. Just consider what Bill 27 actually does:

It discards in one stroke dozens of freely-negotiated contracts covering thousands of health care workers. It transforms the Labour Relations Board from and impartial "referee" in labour matters into an instrument for imposing inferior agreements. And, it opens for door for sweeping changes to the wages and working conditions of all Alberta health care workers.

Looking at the details of Bill 27, it becomes clear that this isn't really about streamlining" or reducing red tape - it's about tearing up agreements, weakening unions and trying to squeeze more out of health care workers for less.

Some Albertans might shrug and say "So what? Why should I care about what happens to health care workers and their contracts?"

Two responses to these questions come to mind. First, all Albertans should be concerned whenever the government uses its legislative power to bully its citizens and renege on agreements.

How would business people who supply services to the government feel if the provincial cabinet suddenly tore up contracts with them and said "we're going to pay you less"? That's exactly what's happening to health care workers under Bill 27.

Second, and more importantly, Albertans should be concerned and angry about Bill 27 because of the impact it will almost certainly have on patient care.

For years now, the Klein government has been chipping away at the foundations of our health care system. Budget cuts, staff shortages, privatization - we're all familiar with the what's been going on.

Through it all, the only thing that has kept the system together is the hard-work and dedication of health care workers. They've gone the extra mile - and stretched themselves thin - to maintain high quality care.

And now, what are these workers going to get in return for their commitment? Lower wages. Longer hours. Fewer full-time jobs. More night shifts. Reduced benefits. Less time with their families.

If the government thinks that attacking health care workers will somehow improve the health system, they are sadly mistaken. Sure, they may save a few dollars. But gutting contracts will also lead to lower morale, higher turn-over, and reduced capacity to attract and retain skilled workers.

Unfortunately, it seems that what we have here is a wealthy (and mean-spirited) government that wants to get health care on the cheap - and they plan to do it by putting the screws to people on the front lines.

We think our health care workers deserve better. So do Alberta patients.

Gil McGowan, AFL Executive StaffMay 2003

When: May 9, 2009 @ 1:30pm

Where: Alberta Legislature, Edmonton

Join David Eggen and his special guests for this important event!

This is shaping up to be a big event, and Friends of Medicare needs you to help! Your job is to make sure you bring at least 4 people with you!

We are standing up to tell our Health Minister that we do not agree with the attack on seniors, the threats to our services, closures of hospitals, along with the rest of the dismantling that has been occurring.

Let's give the Health Minister a strong message that we want positive improvement to our public Healthcare system!

We are organizing buses and car pools from around the province!

If you are wanting to get on one of these buses, c

Calgary and Red Deer: 403 286 9283 (this is a Calgary number) Hinton and Edson: 780 865 2360 Or, our main office: 780 423 4581 Lloydminster and Vegreville: 780 875 7619 all these numbers to register:

CALGARY - Public sector unions are bracing to fight impending provincial cutbacks driven by a multi-billion dollar cash crunch.

And a prominent economist said Premier Alison Redford's TV address to Albertans Thursday fails to come to grips with a looming budget shortfall larger than the province is letting on.

Even before Redford's speech, the Alberta Federation of Labour was readying a public relations offensive to offer alternatives to slashing spending on crucial programs, said president Gil McGowan.

"The public sector unions have been meeting the past couple of weeks to discuss the implications of the budget and, like a lot of Albertans, we're prepared for the worst," McGowan said Friday.

Alberta's fiscal chickens are coming home to roost after years of tax-slashing for wealthier Albertans and a resource revenue giveaway to a wildly profitable energy industry, he said.

"Our provincial GDP is literally 75% higher than the rest of the country, yet we can no longer afford even to have run-of-the-mill services," said McGowan. "I call it the great Alberta disconnect."

After meeting with Finance Minister Doug Horner last Tuesday, McGowan said it's clear areas like education and health care won't be spared drastic action in the budget expected in March.

"Everything we've heard is suggesting the budget won't be as bad as what we saw in the (Ralph) Klein years, but worse than anything we've seen since," he said.

University of Calgary economist Dr. Jack Mintz said Redford's TV address muddied the fiscal waters, and unmentioned obligations like financing requirements could see a shortfall of $8-$10 billion.

"This government has considerable credibility problems as far as their budget plan," he said.

Even with budget cuts averaging 5% over all departments - or a $2-billion slim-down - an ocean of red ink will remain because the discount on Alberta bitumen will also persist for years, added Mintz.

"If they don't make major cuts this years, the sustainability fund will be depleted and they'll be borrowing because they don't want to take it from the heritage fund," he said.

Educators watched Redford with considerable interest, hoping the province's commitment made to them last year in a three-year funding pact will hold in March, said Calgary public school board vice-chairman Lynn Ferguson.

"We are certainly aware of the economic challenges facing the province," said Ferguson.

"I would hope since education is a consistent priority for Albertans, that value would be reflected even in a difficult budget year."Sun News, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013Byline: Bill Kaufmann

Health Care Policy Paper adopted at 2009 AFL Convention. Describes changes to health care system, where we are, where we are going, need to defend Medicare and the future of Medicare.

This AFL study shows that the so-called "Alberta Advantage" has only really been an advantage for a small portion of the Alberta population. Profits and income are up for corporations, but many Alberta are still only getting "crumbs from the table." Crumbs From the Table was the winner of the Canadian Association of Labour Media's 1997 Stroke-of-Genius Award for most innovative labour publication.

This research booklet from the Alberta Federation of Labour demonstrates that public health care and public education give Alberta and Canada a clear competitive advantage over the United States and other countries who deliver these services privately. The book compares the economic costs and benefits of public services versus delivering those services privately. Five areas of public policy are examined: health care, education, income security, retirement pensions and WCB.

There When You Need It? The attack on health care continues