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"AHS has an obligation to work with us on this important issue and to sidestep the legal bargaining agent for these frontline workers is extremely disrespectful to those workers. We expect and demand better." — Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President.
Edmonton (28 Oct. 2014) — The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) has filed a complaint against Alberta Health Services (AHS) regarding AHS' lack of communication with the union about the selection of Sonic Healthcare as the AHS' preferred lab provider.
HSAA/NUPGE lodges labour board complaint against AHS' refusal to communicate plans for employees in the wake of its handing over laboratory services to private Australian company
The complaint says: "AHS has refused to update HSAA on its intended plans, or provide HSAA with any further information about a transfer of HSAA members, and AHS is instead making announcements directly to employees about transfers to another employer without the involvement of their certified bargaining agent.
"In the circumstances, AHS is undermining HSAA's role as the bargaining agent for the affected Laboratory Technologists and Laboratory Assistants, and is interfering with HSAA's representation of the employees."
AHS is interfering with HSAA/NUPGE's mandate to represent affected health professionals
The complaint also says that "AHS is undercutting and interfering with the role of the union in advising its members on their rights in this situation."
"AHS' failure to communicate with HSAA over its lab services plan is also affecting our ability to work with our DynaLIFE DX members to ensure their rights are protected in this transition," says Elisabeth Ballermann, HSAA President. "About 2,000 frontline workers are involved in this process, about 75 per cent of them represented by us. AHS has an obligation to work with us on this important issue and to sidestep the legal bargaining agent for these frontline workers is extremely disrespectful to those workers. We expect and demand better."
Please note that this is a separate complaint from the one filed on October 20, 2014.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE