Unbreakable Unity Rally Day

We want to address another common talking point that the government loves to use when it comes to public sector bargaining. The idea that a Union is a 3rd party that is separate from the workers. Anti union propaganda loves to portray Unions as an unnecessary bureaucratic organization that prevents employers from engaging with their employees.

Nate Horner has already used this rhetoric when he suggested that the rejected HSAA Tentative Agreement was based on HSAA's recommendations and that "it is up to the union to determine why the vote failed in their own proposed agreement".

Let's be clear. The workers ARE the union. Whether it's teachers or healthcare workers or any other profession, a union is a group of workers that choose to collectively bargain together instead of individually. Our bargaining committee is made up of our own members and they have a mandate directly from the union membership. The members also have the final say on accepting or rejecting a proposed deal. "The Union" is not a middle man. Healthcare workers and teachers are not watching from the sidelines while their Union fights on their behalf. We have told the government on several occasions why the tentative agreement was rejected. The government just refuses to listen.

The HSAA and ATA bargaining committees have repeatedly created a mature adult space to negotiate in and the government has refused to occupy that space. The Government constantly delayed the bargaining process and showed up unprepared for bargaining sessions. The Government routinely showed an unwillingness to engage in meaningful discussion due to secret mandates limiting what they could offer. Currently, instead of negotiating, the government is spending taxpayer money on a public advertising smear campaign against the teachers and refusing to engage with HSAA altogether.

HSAA members are tired of being treated with disrespect and contempt while we fight for a fair contract to protect the future of the healthcare system. On October 2nd, there will be rallies held across the province from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. These rallies are part of a day of unity for our union to remind the government that they aren't negotiating with a faceless union. They are negotiating with 30,000 healthcare workers who call Alberta home. 30,000 healthcare workers that collectively provide healthcare services 24 hours per day and 365 days per year to the residents of Alberta. Everyone needs healthcare. Without HSAA members, there is no healthcare.

We want to reach a deal at the bargaining table but we remain Strike Ready.

We can’t reach a deal at the bargaining table until the government agrees to resume negotiations.

We encourage members from the public to join us in solidarity on October 2nd and show support for healthcare workers. The Edmonton rallies will be located at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, University of Alberta Hospital, Westview Hospital in Stony Plain, and Sturgeon Hospital in St. Albert. More information can be found on the HSAA website.

https://hsaa.ca/events/day-unity-rallies