EDMONTON - Staff at the Devonshire Care Centre will strike against their employer, B.C.-based Park Place Seniors Living Inc., Tuesday morning at 6:30 am.
Licensed Practical Nurses, Health Care Aides, dietary, housekeeping, laundry and other specialized staff totaling close to 180 staff will walk the picket line at 1808 Rabbit Hill Road.
The Devonshire Care Centre strike will bring the total number of private continuing care work sites on strike in Edmonton to three.
Park Place Seniors living also owns Hardisty Care Centre where 80 workers have been on strike since May 22nd.
Revera Riverbend in Edmonton, owned by Revera Inc. is the site of the third strike in our city.
Staff at Monterey Place in Calgary, have also been locked out since June 26.
"The employer refuses to offer employees at Devonshire a fair agreement. Park Place is threatening the quality of care residents deserve and staff want to give," said AUPE President Guy Smith. "Park Place refuses to pay staff the industry-standard wages they are funded with Albertans' tax dollars to pay," said Smith. "Park Place is boosting their profits by paying staff up to 30 per cent less than the provincial standard set by Alberta Health Services. That's public money meant for seniors care, going into the pockets of an owner. It's wrong."
"Park Place Seniors Living is driving workers away to work sites that will offer them industry-standard wages and benefits," said AUPE Staff Negotiator Mac McNaughton. "With more staff leaving, the quality of care residents receive at Devonshire will decline."
AUPE represents close to 80,000 Albertans. More than half of those work in public or private health care settings.
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