HSAA - AHS Bargaining Update #2
TO:
All HSAA Members employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS)
FROM:
Your AHS Bargaining Team
RE:
AHS Bargaining Update #2
Hi EDMO,
As your bargaining team prepares to start negotiations, we want to share what we’ve heard from you and what to expect in the coming weeks.
Your bargaining team has spent seven days together reviewing research, analyzing your feedback, discussing strategy and developing our proposals. We understand the significance of the issues that will be coming to the bargaining table and feel your urgency for results. As your bargaining committee heads to the table, we are feeling inspired by your passion, and we are optimistic about what we can achieve together.
The bargaining committee feels incredibly supported by you and want to express our appreciation to everyone who took time to fill out the survey or share input. There was a record number of responses to the survey. The huge volume of input helps us understand your priorities and find our collective goals. Your committee reviewed every survey response, every email, and every bit of feedback we got from you. Thank you. You are not just being heard; your input is guiding us every step of the way.
Your bargaining committee has developed a long list of proposals to take to AHS. The proposals cover the vast range of topics that were important to you. There was a resounding endorsement of five priorities:
Increased wages & compensation
Improved benefits
Protecting job security
Enhancing leave provisions
Addressing workload and staffing issues
It was incredibly encouraging to see that these priorities were consistent across all our disciplines and in every region of the province. Our membership is united in our position, and your committee will remain focused on your priorities in our efforts to get the most gains for the collective good.
Now that the proposals have been developed, the next step is to meet with AHS on March 19 and 20 to exchange proposals. This will be our first opportunity to get a real, face-to-face understanding for the tone negotiations are going to take and you will receive an update as soon as possible after that meeting.
While all of this is happening, we want you to know your union is keeping a close eye on the government’s approach to restructuring health care in Alberta. The announced changes are not impacting our approach to bargaining, but our Union will be vigilant in our monitoring for any developments, and you will be informed if any further details are uncovered or if bargaining is impacted.
If you have questions about our Union’s approach to bargaining, there is an FAQ page you can access here. If you have further questions or feedback to provide us, please email ahsbargaining@hsaa.ca.
And before we go, we have one more thing to ask of you. Please share these updates with your colleagues in your workplaces. If you find out that someone is not receiving these emails, encourage them to sign up as a member on hsaa.ca and ensure they are subscribed to our emails.
Being signed up as a member is how you receive bargaining updates and, more importantly, a ballot when it comes time to vote on the collective agreement. We hope you’ll spread the work to as many as possible, so everyone is informed and able to vote.
In solidarity,
Your AHS Bargaining Team
Megan Connolly, Social Worker, Calgary (Chair)
Sarah Dorma, Social Worker, Calgary
Dean Rombough, Public Health Inspector, Edmonton
Jason Soklofske, Advanced Care Paramedic, Medicine Hat (South)
Vicki Wakulchyk, Addictions Counsellor, Calgary
Sarah Mullin, Social Worker, Red Deer (Central)
Kelly Sherwood, Advanced Care Paramedic, Edmonton
Chandra Arsenault, Respiratory Therapist, Edmonton
Brittany Fandrick, Dental Hygienist, Westlock (North)
Todd Romanow, HSAA Labour Relations Officer (Lead Spokesperson)
Jody Machtans, HSAA Labour Relations Officer, (Spokesperson)
Sheena Schiemann, HSAA Administrative Assistant Negotiations
Edmonton Metro Shift Pick
EDMO 2024-2025 Shift Pick
Shift Pick 2024 - 2025
Feb 12-16, 2024 - Live Updates
Please come visit! We will be set up at Station 39 (QMP).
There will be snacks!
HSAA - AHS Bargaining Update #1
TO:
All HSAA Members employed by Alberta Health Services, Bethany Nursing Home of Camrose and Lamont Health Care Centre (United Church of Canada)
RE:
Here we go! AHS bargaining update #1
Hi Kelly,
Welcome to the first of what could be a long list of bargaining updates for 2020. This round of negotiations is going to be like none ever seen before in Alberta. We want to begin by thanking the dozens of HSAA members who volunteered to serve as part of the HSAA’s bargaining committee. There were many factors HSAA's Board of Directors considered before determining who would be chosen for the committee – such as geographic location, health sector employment (community, acute, etc.), experience, Union involvement and HSAA District.
We are pleased to announce the members of the HSAA’s Bargaining Committee.
Committee Chair (Board) Leanne Alfaro, EEG Technologist II
Edmonton (Board) Donna Farquharson, Respiratory Therapist I
South (Board) Jason Soklofske, Advanced Care Paramedic
North (Member-at-Large) Ilea Kapler, MRT I
Edmonton (Member-at-Large) Jenalyn Myggland, Occupational Therapist I
Calgary (Member-at-Large) Linda Van Haar, Social Worker II
South (Member-at-Large) Trevor Puritch, Primary Care Paramedic
Central (Member-at-Large) Wayne Button, Public Health Inspector I
Lead Spokesperson Marnie Stuart, Labour Relations Officer
Spokesperson Kate Robinson, Labour Relations Officer
Administrative Assistant, Negotiations Sheena Schiemann
Preparations are underway for our upcoming bargaining dates which are tentatively set for:
April 2/3 – proposal exchange
April 14/15
May 12/13
May 20/21
June 16/17
June 24/25
We’ve mentioned how this is shaping up to be a round of negotiations the likes of which have never been seen before in Alberta. An indicator of that is the proposal exchanges we have already seen for the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) and the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA). First, the proposals from the employers were basic carbon copies to both organizations and they contained a detailed listing of monetary issues, something that normally does not happen at this stage. Secondly, UNA made the decision to publicly post the proposal presented to them.
While HSAA is carefully considering the public and media relations approach we will take during bargaining, there is one thing we want to make perfectly clear. Our focus and priority will be engaging and communicating with members to ensure you have the very latest information and we are accurately representing you at the bargaining table.
You will soon be getting an email with a member’s pre-bargaining survey where you will be able to tell us the issues you want us to focus on at the table. The launch date for the survey is tentatively set for Monday, February 10 and it will remain open for two weeks to help make sure the maximum number of members can fill it out.
Tentative Launch Date – February 10, 2020
Tentative Close Date - February 24, 2020
*PLEASE NOTE: The survey will be sent to all active HSAA members with a personal email address on file with the HSAA. To submit or update your email address call the Member's Resource Centre at 1-844-280-4722, email membership@hsaa.ca or update your member profile through your HSAA Member Hub.
Our Wage Re-opener
The dates have been set for us to appear before an arbitrator and settle the wage re-opener on our current contract. We will be sitting down with an arbitrator on Monday, January 27 and Monday, February 10. A reminder, arbitrators have recently ruled for a 0% increase for both the ATA and UNA.
Our starting position heading into arbitration is for a 5% increase for the final year of our deal. We were originally informed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) that it would be seeking a 0% increase as it’s opening position. That position was overridden by the current government and AHS is now seeking a 5% rollback of your wages.
We will continue to keep you updated on the wage re-opener as events unfold.