EDMONTON – The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) is joining the Rally for Respect today at the Alberta Legislature to demand that the provincial government show respect for the dedicated work of health-care professionals by offering fair wages in its collective bargaining.
“Health-care professionals have taken on far too much because of the actions of this government, to now be met with wage freezes in bargaining,” said Mike Parker, President of HSAA. “First, it was a bungled pandemic, then a staff shortage, then a failed laboratory privatization, and an EMS crisis topped off with the demolition of AHS. Through it all, this government would say how much it values and appreciates health-care professionals. But when it came time to back those words up at the bargaining table, they presented insulting wage offers and refused to negotiate.”
“Albertans want a public health-care system that provides the care they need. There is no health care without the work of HSAA members. Without fair wages, we cannot retain the health-care professionals we have, let alone recruit more,” continued Parker. “The most effective way to solve the staffing crisis in health care is to show health-care professionals respect through fair wages and stability. This government has chosen to do the exact opposite with wage freeze proposals and restructuring.”
“The government sets the mandate for all public sector collective bargaining, and we are demanding that they revise their mandate to ensure that Albertans have the health care they need by providing fair wages that keep pace with inflation.”
HSAA is asking Albertans to join them in calling on the Premier to treat health-care professionals with respect at hsaa.ca/fairdeal.
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Media Inquiries:
Myles Curry, Manager, Communications
587-991-9445 | MylesC@hsaa.ca
