Health Sciences to seek clarity on timeline of EMS decision, during April 2 meeting with Labour board

Friday, March 27, 2009

EDMONTON - HSAA and other stakeholders will attend a meeting April 2 at the Alberta Labour Relations Board to discuss the processes and timelines for the determination of union representation for thousands of health-care workers - including EMS personnel - under the province's new singular structure.

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta has been advocating for a "expeditious decision" from the Alberta Labour Relations Board, regarding the transfer of union representation for approximately 1,000 EMS personnel, says Elisabeth Ballermann, president of the 18,000-member strong healthcare union.

"The Labour Relations Board (LRB) needs to go through its processes to decide when the change of union representation would occur," explained Ballermann. "We have been advocating to get that decision made as quickly as possible, to provide certainty to those EMS professionals impacted by the provincial government's recent decision."

Alberta Employment and Immigration Minister Hector Goudreau recently announced that more than 1,000 EMS personnel in the province will be moved into the existing Paramedical Professional and Technical unit, which is currently represented by HSAA.

"While we're aware of the need for some finality regarding this issue, these delays are out of our hands," Ballermann said. "As we understand, CUPE intends to challenge the ministerial order, and I assume the decision of the LRB. Therefore, we will continue to respect their legal right to do so.

"Assuming the transfer to HSAA proceeds, we would then commence the process of achieving standardized terms and conditions of employment for these EMS employees. At our end, HSAA will do everything within our means to minimize disruption to these members, and to wind up with the best possible collective agreement provisions. We have found that the combination of member participation (in this case EMS workers) and professional negotiators creates a powerful synergy at the bargaining table.

I look forward to the opportunity to meet with these members directly, but we must respect CUPE's union's structures and processes."