Local Link

United Nurses of Alberta

UNA121 Executive Local
President Wendy Brigham wendy@una.ab.ca 1st VP Cynthia Perkins cperkins@una.ab.ca 2nd VP Robert Reich-Sander rreichsander@una.ab.ca

UNAlocal121 Negotiations commence

local121.una.ab.ca

May 2013

UN A and AHS agreed to delay the start of negotiations initially planned for February. Proposals are set to be exchanged on M ay 30 th and 31 st . For up to date inform ation, sign in to UN A N et: FirstClass and click on the N egs 2013 icon. UN A will communicate to its members through non AHS email.

Nurses week Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit our info kiosk. Our local executives were there to answer Treasurer questions and provide UNA related Mairi Gordon information. Gifts for members this mgordon@una.ab.ca year were lanyards or retractable Communications nametag holders. If you have not Wendy Yung wyung@una.ab.ca received your gift, please see your Local 121 Office ward rep. Congratulations to Mairi Gordon and Cynthia Perkins (403) 670-9980 (Treasurer) (1 VP) Christine Maxwell, who won the draw Local121exec@una.ab.ca for a $250 Riverside Spa gift Southern Alberta Regional Office certificate. 300-1422 Kensington Road Ward Rep Binders NW Calgary AB T2N 3P9 (403) 670-9960 Every unit/department should have a Ward Rep binder. The contents are a resource for Provincial Office all members. Includes PRC forms, contact info, 700-11150 Jasper Avenue NW Edmonton AB T5K Spotlights, membership forms. If your area 0C7 doesnt have one, contact any of the local (780) 425-1025 Toll Free: executives. 1-800-252-9394 FX: (780)
Secretary Norma Downing normad@una.ab.ca
st

426-2093 Web Site: una.ab.ca E-mail: nurses@una.ab.ca

May 9 Rm 4577 June 13 Fisher Hall

Local Link May 2013 http://local121.una.ab.ca

CFNU Convention The local is sending members and the local executive to attend the biennial convention in Toronto. Please check our website and Facebook for coverage in June. Website Resources Our local website has resources to help our members. How to file PRC Professional Responsibility Concerns, Workplace Health & Safety reports, outline of the Grievance procedure and Spotlights on our contract. PDF copies of our contract are also available to download.

A big thanks to our members for the increasing turn out to our monthly local meetings!

Hello all UNA members of local 121,

Message from our President

I'm sure you share my distress over recent layoffs in community care programs. To add insult to injury 40 of those jobs were eliminated during Nurses Week.

I work in urology and I know we rely heavily on home care nurses, whether it is to manage wound care, catheter care, or even palliative care for those dealing with diagnosis of cancer. The community nurses enabled early discharge after surgery because we knew the nurse was only a phone call away. Our sisters are likely losing these jobs so the Employer can save money from their budget. Less expensive, less well-trained members of the health care team will fill these vacant positions. These moves do not bode well for the upcoming round of contract negotiations. To save RN jobs we may have to sacrifice other well-deserved items in the contract such as RRSP contribution, CARNA contribution, and lump sum payments that are issued 2x per year. Or will it be designated Rest days for part timers? We don't want to fight to hold on to what we already have. The two parties will initiate face-to-face meetings on May 29/30. So stay tuned. Get onto UNAnet to access current talks as they happen. You will not be able access this info through AHS email. On a lighter note, I hope you received well-deserved recognition during nurses week. And I hope vacation requests were granted as we all need well earned rest to recharge our batteries. We know some areas in the hospital where vacation has been denied and we are challenging those denials. There are lots of other rumors out there as we try to address those as quickly as possible. Remember YOU are the U in UNA. Stand united or divided we fall. In Solidarity, Wendy Brigham

Local Link May 2013 http://local121.una.ab.ca