Volume 38, Number 4 Volume United Nurses of Alberta NewsBulletinDecember 2014 Small worksite bargaining begins Page 9 Personal Leave Day changes Page 23 Pages 3-8 445 United Nurses of Alberta NewsBulletin 2 December 2014 Volume 38, Number 4 UNA’s ‘Superheroes’ lead the fight to make sure Save Staffing Saves By Heather Smith President, United Nurses of Alberta 2014 AGM For the 2014 United Nurses of Alberta annual general Occupational Health and Safety challenges reached meeting, which has just ended, we chose the theme “Safe new heights. Staffing Saves …” and a comic-book style of presenting it. I’m proud we successfully fought off an attack by the The comic-book imagery seemed like a powerful way to government on our pensions, and made significant inroads present the important message that, when it comes to health against their effort to reduce our collective bargaining rights care in Alberta and Canada, nurses are superheroes! and those of all health care unions in Alberta. In my remarks on the opening day of the AGM, I told But we must all remember these attacks against our the 850 people at the EXPO Centre in Edmonton that un- rights, our retirement security, our wages and working safe staffing is the deadly force against which we fight each conditions, and the safe and high-quality care we give our and every hour of each and every day. And, even though we patients, residents and clients, are not going to end, next don’t have superpowers, we are not defenceless. year or ever. Our super weapons are our Collective Agreements – and Alberta nurses need to remain vigilant, and continue to the ability they give us to raise professional responsibility act as superheroes dedicated to the protection of our fair, ef- concerns, deal with occupational health and safety problems fective and efficient public health care system. Safe staffing and file grievances on behalf of any or all of our members. saves … it saves money, and it saves lives. Our champions – our “superheroes,” if you will – are For now, I wish you all the very best of the season, and a UNA’s local executives, our staff members and, above all, productive and happy 2015. I look forward to working with our front-line Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric you all in the New Year. Nurses who simply refuse to accept that “this is the way In solidarity, it is.” So, in the past 12 months, our “superheroes” filed 2,237 professional responsibility concerns and 630 grievances. Heather Smith, President, UNA Provincial Office Executive Board Directors 700-11150 Jasper Avenue NW Edmonton AB T5K 0C7 President: Heather Smith H: 780-437-2477 W: 780-425-1025 Labour Relations: st David Harrigan p 780-425-1025/1-800-252-9394 1 Vice-President: Jane Sustrik C: 780-915-8367 W: 780-425-1025 f 780-426-2093 2nd Vice-President: Daphne Wallace C: 780-991-4036 W: 780-425-1025 or 403-237-2377 Finance and Administrative Services: Darlene Rathgeber Southern Alberta Regional Office Secretary/Treasurer: Karen Craik C: 403-510-5163 W: 780-425-1025 or 403-237-2377 300-1422 Kensington Road NW North District: Roxann Dreger Susan Gallivan North Central District: Terri Barr Information Systems: Calgary AB T2N 3P9 Teresa Caldwell Jennifer Castro Susan Coleman Christina Doktor Andrew Johnson p 403-237-2377/1-800-661-1802 Heidi Gould Jenna Knight Karen Kuprys Central District: Dianne McInroy f 403-263-2908 Sandra Zak Wanda Zimmerman South Central District: Marie Aitken Kathy Bouwmeester Marie Corns Denise Palmer Leslie Perry PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40064422 www.una.ab.ca JoAnne Rhodes Cameron Westhead South District: Maxine Braun John Terry RETURN UNDELIVERABLE [email protected] CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO: facebook.com/unitednurses Published by the United Nurses of Alberta five times a year for our members UNITED NURSES OF ALBERTA 700-11150 JASPER AVENUE NW twitter.com/unitednurses Editor: David Climenhaga Production: Kelly de Jong EDMONTON AB T5K OC7 United Nurses of Alberta NewsBulletin 3 December 2014 Volume 38, Number 4 Unsafe staffing is the deadly force nurses battle every day: PRESIDENT SMITH 2014 AGM UNA President Heather Smith “UNSAFE staffing is the deadly force against which we fight each and every hour of each and every day,” United Nurses of Alberta President Heather Smith told the union’s 37th annual general meeting November 19 in Edmonton. The theme of the 2014 UNA AGM was “Save Staffing Saves,” and one of the things safe staffing saves is lives, Smith emphasized to more than 850 delegates, observers, staff and others at the Tuesday- Throughout morning opening of the meeting. Similar numbers the meeting, members heard stirring were on the floor every day of the three-day annu- and practical advice from social activists, health care al meeting. staffing experts and partner groups on what is being done, and what can be done in the ongoing fight for This is truer than ever before, Smith advised the safe and effective public health care. Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses in her audience. In an age of global epidemics of Smith, who was re-elected by acclamation to her deadly diseases such as Ebola, “it has been nurses’ 14th two-year term as UNA leader, also reported on unions – at the provincial and national level – that the union’s successes in the past year, including suc- have pushed governments and employers to adopt cessful conclusion of negotiations for a new Provincial more stringent protocols. To act, not wait.” Collective Agreement after more than a year of difficult bargaining and success in the multi-union She warned delegates that managers and politicians campaign to end the provincial government’s assault don’t see the world the same way, and continued on public service pension. vigilance and activism are essential to ensure pa- tients and front-line medical staff alike Secretary-Treasurer Karen Craik was re-elected by are protected. acclamation to a ninth term. In the year ahead, Smith said, “we have negotia- tions to complete at long-term care and other smaller employers across the province, and may also see important elections in Alberta and Canada.” She encouraged members to continue to wear white at work to help the public understand “the implica- tions for them and their loved ones when they do not see a white uniform.” Convention delegates United Nurses of Alberta NewsBulletin 4 December 2014 Volume 38, Number 4 FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE NOT SOMETHING YOU PUT ON OR SHUCK OFF! “FIGHTING for social justice is like a bath,” Maude Barlow said, “we need a vision of our own to counter Barlow told UNA’s AGM on November 20. “You this direct assault on medicare. … And we need to fight for it every day … or you stink!” assert our values in the political life of our country.” In other words, said the renowned author, activ- “It’s not about winning a particular campaign,” she ist, environmentalist and chair of the Council of cautioned. “It’s about building democracy. It’s about Canadians, “fighting for social justice is not some- supporting each other through thing you put on or take off.” hard times. … It is always too “We need a vision of early to declare defeat!” The fight is not easy, particularly after the damage our own to counter done and continuing to be done to Canadian civil Barlow warned UNA delegates this direct assault society by the Harper Government, Barlow acknowl- that their victories will not on medicare…” edged. She cited a long list of civil society groups, always be clear-cut, but they scientific bodies and essential public services, includ- will come. “Our victories may come ing health care services, that have been attacked or as subtle, complex, slow changes in- gutted by the federal government since the federal stead of the big ones that we would like. Conservatives came to power. But we can build on inclusivity and diversity right from the beginning.” Without doubt, she asserted, a direct attack on public health care is part of the government’s long- She reminded her audience social movements often term program, despite its unwillingness to attack start small before they achieve big results. “Don’t popular essential programs head on. assume you have to find all the resources before you jump into an issues. … If you start the campaign, But there is plenty of reason to hope as well, she somebody will come and help you. Have a big vision. said. “The year my mother was born, the Canada Promote the change we need to happen.” Elections Act said no woman, lunatic, idiot or child may vote. … We have come a long way, and we “We have a great task ahead of us,” she concluded. can change!” “We’re going to have to undo some very bad stuff. It’s going to take our whole lives. But then, what else do To restore what has been lost and stop we have to do?” the attack on Canada, AGM speakers: Bill Moore-Kilgannon of Heather Smith and Activist Maude Barlow and PIA, Sandra Azocar of Friends of Medicare, Maude Barlow AFL President Gil McGowan Ricardo Acuna of Parkland Institute United Nurses of Alberta NewsBulletin 5 December 2014 Volume 38, Number 4 The full list of UNA officers Smith and Craik re-elected by acclamation and district representatives as president and secretary-treasurer elected and acclaimed at the 2014 AGM is as follows: President: Heather Smith UNA President Heather Smith and Secretary-Treasurer Karen Craik were each Secretary-Treasurer: re-elected to another two-year term at UNA’s November 19-21 annual general meet- Karen Craik ing, Smith to her 14th, Craik to her ninth.