Thread by @JunkerAnna

Health-care workers have walked off the job this morning. A sizeable group is outside the Royal Alex and getting lots of honks of support from passing vehicles #yeg #ableg #abhealtb #abpoli

AUPE president Guy Smith is expected to speak in just a few minutes #abhealth

Here’s a list of places where workers have walked out

https://twitter.com/tylerrdawson/status/1320735476098027521

Smith says there are general support staff and LPN’s who have walked off this morning

Smith says there is no timeline for how long this will last. Government and employer needs to come to the table.

Anger and frustration has been building up over the last year Smith says

He wants to hear a movement to resolve this, discuss the real issues about job security, save jobs and workload issues

Smith says this is a wildcat strike

Each worksite is deciding how long it pickets for and when it pickets, Smith says

Smith says there were threats of strikes in the past but the announcement from Health Minister Tyler Shandro two weeks ago about 11,000 job cuts at AHS threw fuel on the fire “and when you throw fuel on the fire you’re going to get burned”

Smith says with past premiers there has been working relationships but with Premier Jason Kenney “there is no relationship”

Smith says Kenney has done nothing but attack the fabric of Alberta’s society. People are fed up

Listened back to the audio from Smith and this is a full list of places that are on strike:
Royal Alexandra Hospital (Edmonton)
Glenrose Hospital (Edmonton)
Alberta Hospital (Edmonton)
Foothills Hospital (Calgary)
South Health Campus (Calgary)
Peter Lougheed Centre (Calgary)

Red Deer Regional Hospital
Athabasca
Westlock
Lethbridge
Whitecourt
Cold Lake
Peace River
Leduc
Westview (Stony Plain)
Fort Saskatchewan
#ableg #abhealth #abpoli

Alberta Health Services is referring to today's strike as illegal.

#ableg #abhealth #abpoli

Meanwhile, the Alberta Federation of Labour sent out a release saying unions stand in solidarity with health-care workers. Gil McGowan, president of AFL, Heather Smith president of UNA, United Nurses of Alberta & Mike Parker president of HSAA will speak later today #abhealth

Fun fact? Smith said he found out about the strike organized by workers "very early this morning." The AUPE tweeted about it at 7:40 a.m. and the media avail was at 8:30. Gotta love Mondays!

Finance Minister Travis Toews has released a statement on the strike:
#ableg #abpoli #abhealth

Here's our story on the strike which will be updated many times today. @ashleyjoannou is also working on this file. I will be heading back to the Royal Alex in a bit for that media avail with the AFL, UNA and the HSAA.
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-new… #ableg #abpoli #abhealth #aupe

Back at the Royal Alex and the group has grown quite large #ableg #abpoli #abhealth #aupe #yeg

A tent with refreshments has been erected and I also see at least 2 peace officers on site. The workers are getting quite a lot of honks from passing drivers

And the Google Street View car just went by

The presser is a few minutes late. I believe we are just waiting on Heather Smith of the United Nurses of Alberta. Not sure how much I’ll be able to live tweet

Gil McGowan of the AFL speaking now. Says Jason Kenney has not just picked a fight with healthcare workers, but with labour as a whole. Today may be hundreds but tomorrow there will be thousands

Responding to Toews’ statement. Says if he was concerned about patients in healthcare system gov’t wouldn’t have announced 11,000 job cuts to AHS

Heather Smith now. “Whose fault is this?” She asks. Crowd: “Jason Kenney!”

Smith thanks the AUPE for taking the first step in their fight back.

Says they did it before at the legislature with Klein and will do it again

Mike Parker with HSAA up. Says they stand together in labour and everyone gathered are frontline health care workers

Chants of “we are healthcare”

McGowan back saying there are non healthcare unions here supporting those on strike.

McGowan: you’re not just the talk of the town, you’re the talk of the province, you’re the talk of the country.

McGowan says he is being asked how long the strike will go on. “However long it takes!”

Says they’re starting a movement today and that is to stand up to Kenney

Once again that’s a wrap. Story will be updated accordingly ASAP

Here's our latest file on today's wildcat strike:

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-new…
#yeg #ableg #abpoli #abhealth #aupe #WildcatStrike

Some strong words from Heather Smith, UNA president outside the Royal Alex earlier:

"Whether you’re talking nurses, you’re talking housekeeping or dietary, those are all part of our team. And when you contract out, a housekeeper that affects me as a nurse...

when you contract out dietary, that affects me as a nurse,& it’s time this government recognize that we are a family of providers,& we don’t like being ripped apart, we’re not going to stand for being ripped apart and discarded like Kleenex, we are not disposable as a workforce.”