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By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

about 50 workers affected

AUPE files labour board complaint for Michener Centre workers

Sep 4, 2020 | 5:01 PM

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) says the government owes backpay approximately 50 workers, including licensed practical nurses at Michener Centre.

Michener Centre is a provincially-operated serving adults with developmental disabilities.

On Aug. 24, the AUPE filed its second complaint — the first was on June 19 — with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, alleging that the employer hasn’t followed through on the terms of its own single-site work order.

Labour Minister Jason Copping signed the order on April 10 that states when employees choose one site, the employer(s) they didn’t choose is supposed to put them on a leave of absence, maintain pension and benefits, and allow the employee to return one the health order is lifted.

The employer they did choose is then to give workers priority access to additional hours or supplement their pay to make up for what they lost at the others.

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“There are hours there, but what has happened is Michener has decided that instead of giving them to permanent, dedicated employees — the ones which chose Michener — they’re giving the hours out to a lot of temporary and casual employees,” explains Bonnie Gostola, Vice President, AUPE, Red Deer region.

“Employees aren’t making ends meet. We’ve had complaints about rent and car payments,” she adds. “But then they’ve also dedicated a lot of time to working with clients, and these clients expect that continuity of care in their caregivers. So what happens when you start bringing a lot of casual and temporary employees is they do not know the clientele and their routines.”

To date, the government has not responded to the second complaint, though some talks — albeit unsuccessful ones — were had following the first.

“They (the government) are showing their generally callous attitude to our most vulnerable citizens in this province, and at the end of the day, the rules they make don’t apply to them, but they’re good enough for everybody else,” Gostola says. “It’s really putting a major strain on the relationship with their employees, and this is not the first time they’ve done this.”

The union also filed a policy grievance on Aug. 26.

On Friday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Community and Social Services stated that they are aware of the complaint filed with the Labour Relations Board by AUPE.

“Michener Centre is required to adhere to the Single Site Order of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, which limits employees to working at one facility. The Single Site Order helps ensure residents and those working at the facility are kept as physically safe as possible during the pandemic,” the statement says.

“For complaints filed with the Labour Relations Board, they are reviewed by the board and follow a formal process. We respect the independence of the Board, and will not comment on the specifics of their complaint.”