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“The Premier says we have entered the ‘action phase’ of reforming health care. That means overcoming staffing shortages and improving working conditions so we can care for Albertans.” — Mike Parker, HSAA President
Edmonton (22 Nov. 2022) — "Health care is in crisis and we need to be providing direct support to health care professionals so Albertans can access public health care when they need it.”
This was Mike Parker’s message to the Premier and Health Minister on November 18. Parker is the President of Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE), representing over 30,000 paramedical, technical, professional and general support employees in the public and private health care sectors of Alberta. The meeting was an opportunity for the UCP to explain what it will be doing to deliver health care reform at a time when our children’s hospitals are over capacity, and Albertans aren’t getting the care they need where and when they need it.
“It was encouraging to hear the Premier and the Minister state their intention to address issues we have been raising for the last 3.5 years,” continued Parker. “Premier Smith echoed our stance that Alberta needs to be doing more to retain the people we have and to increase the numbers of health professionals we are training and recruiting.”
Concern that privatization undermining supports for health care professionals
But, HSAA/NUPGE has concerns about how the work to support health care professionals will be overshadowed by the UCP causing organizational chaos and pursuing failed privatization schemes.
“Don’t forget, a few months ago, this government was trying to impose double-digit wage rollbacks on our members,” added Parker. “They are currently transitioning thousands of lab professionals to a private employer, putting their pensions at risk. They are doing harm right now by ignoring science and creating doubt about the effectiveness of masks and vaccines.”
HSAA/NUPGE professionals are the experts in the delivery of health care. We are encouraging the government to immediately take 4 steps.
- Offer casual employees full-time positions.
- Solve chronic short staffing.
- Ensure health care is publicly funded and delivered.
- Restart and expand canceled mental health and social programs, including safe consumption.
“Alberta Health Services needs to become a preferred employer,” concluded Parker. “We are competing for health professionals with other provinces that are offering wage increases and actively recruiting our members.”
“The Premier says we have entered the ‘action phase’ of reforming health care. That means overcoming staffing shortages and improving working conditions so we can care for Albertans.”
HSAA/NUPGE is the union of 30,000 health care professionals dedicated to protecting the public health system and the vulnerable Albertans who rely on it.