Despite the Government of Alberta news release boasting about Alberta’s vaccine rollout for health care workers, Alberta Health Services is putting needless barriers in the way of nurses being vaccinated. #abhealth#ableg
United Nurses of Alberta has filed a grievance against Alberta Health Services for a new policy requiring nurses to use unpaid leave or vacation time to be vaccinated against COVID-19. #abhealth#ableg
Despite the clear language of the collective agreement, AHS is claiming that if the purpose of the medical appointment is to be vaccinated against the COVID-19, they will not apply the collective agreement. #abhealth#ableg
“It appears that this is being done in retaliation for UNA’s decision to decline to agree to the employer’s request to renew a Memorandum of Agreement that includes a pause on bargaining" said UNA's David Harrigan. #abhealth#ableg
By placing barriers to having health care workers vaccinated, AHS is putting the health, safety and lives of Albertans at risk. Putting up barriers to vaccination shouldn’t be used as a labour relations tactic. #abhealth#ableg
Alberta Health Services bargaining representatives have rejected in total a Memorandum of Settlement proposed earlier today by United Nurses of Alberta.
UNA urgently called on employers to quickly negotiate a contract similar to one announced this morning in Saskatchewan in order to achieve labour peace, stabilize the Alberta workforce, and focus on responding to the pandemic.