Conservatives can’t be trusted with health care

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CUPE AB President Marle Roberts with Health Minister Sarah Hoffman at the site of Calgary General Hospital, blown up by the Conservative government in 1998. “We can’t let Jason Kenney destroy our health care system,” said Roberts.

Today, CUPE Alberta President Marle Roberts was joined by Health Minister Sarah Hoffman  at the former home of the demolished Calgary General Hospital, to call on Jason Kenney and the United Conservative Party to come clean about what their deep cuts to health care will mean for families in Calgary, and across Alberta.

Calgary General Hospital was demolished by Alberta’s former conservative government in 1998 as part of a risky agenda to cut the health care services Albertans depended on. As the largest hospital in North America to ever be closed, the demolition made Calgary the only large city in Canada without a downtown emergency room, led to severe shortages of hospital bed space for over a decade, and resulted in millions of dollars being spent on private surgeries to meet the demands of a growing city. The destruction of the General, along with the closing of the Grace Hospital in 1996 and the Holy Cross Centre in 1997, left Calgary with 1,800 hospital beds, down from 3,000.

With UCP Leader Jason Kenney proposing 20 per cent cuts to health care to fund tax giveaways for those at the top, with UCP MLA Glenn van Dijken recently calling the badly-needed Calgary Cancer Centre a “fancy box,” the United Conservatives are slated to debate a range of policies related to drastically cutting and privatizing health care.  Given their history, Albertans should be worried about Kenney’s plans for health care.

“The demolition of this hospital was devastating to families, health care workers, and to all Calgarians. Watching the footage of the conservatives literally blowing up a hospital, I worry about what another conservative government would mean for families in Calgary. We can’t let Jason Kenney pay for his tax breaks for the rich with deep cuts to the services we depend on.” – Marle Roberts, President, CUPE Alberta

“The conservatives want to slash health care, fire nurses and bring back the old days of queue jumping for their wealthy donors. Albertans have seen what their cuts mean, and they rejected two-tier, American-style health care. It’s time for Jason Kenney to be honest about his reckless agenda.” – Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health

The hospital closure was the result of nearly $100 million in cuts to health care funding during the 1990s by the former conservative government, along with firing and laying-off health care workers, and hospital and emergency room closures across the province.

It cost $8.5 million to demolish the Calgary General Hospital.

Forward, Not Back: How Alberta unions can make a difference in the next election

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NOTICE:  CUPE LOCALS AFFLIATED TO THE ALBERTA FERDERATION OF LABOUR (AFL) 

Greetings Sisters, Brothers and Friends,

The AFL mid-term forum is taking place May 4th and 5th in Calgary. It is titled; Forward, Not Back

How Alberta unions can make a difference in the next election.

For more information regarding the forum and to secure hotel accommodations go to:    http://www.afl.org/afl_midterm_2018.

As it states in the AFL midterm announcement:

“ The stakes couldn’t be higher for working people. Please join us at the midterm forum to learn about how you can be part of our pre-election campaign!

Together we can keep Alberta moving forward towards a progressive, worker-friendly future.”

CUPE Alberta is asking Locals to support the AFL mid-term forum by sending delegates. The forum will describe how we can support and  be a part of the AFL pre-election campaign.

Although we have had numerous discussions regarding UNIFOR and the impact it has had regarding some President’s of the Federation of Labour’s belonging to UNIFOR, it is important that we have as many delegates at this forum to show our support for the Alberta Federation of Labour.  We may not agree with the decisions made and process followed, but I know, we all agree with a strong labour movement.

I look forward to seeing CUPE members at this forum. CUPE Alberta will be holding a caucus and inviting the AFL Officers for a discussion on our support.    Lets pack the house !

In Solidarity,

Marle Roberts

President CUPE Alberta

Rachel Notley gets huge applause, cheers & hugs from CUPE Alberta convention delegates

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GRANDE PRAIRIE — Moments after the CUPE Alberta convention voted (unanimously) to support the Alberta NDP in next year’s provincial election, Premier Rachel Notley was received with cheers, chants, hugs and multiple standing ovations by delegates.

After a rousing intro from CUPE Alberta President Marle Roberts, Notley took to the stage and gave thanks to public sector workers.

“Thank you for always working to make Alberta a better place.”

While giving a spirited defence of her government’s record, Notley vowed that as Alberta’s economy recovers, people from every walk of life will share that prosperity.

“An economic recovery that doesn’t reach everyone is no recovery at all.”

Throughout convention, multiple speakers addressed recent changes to Alberta labour laws and minimum wages.  Notley gave credit to CUPE and the labour movement for those reforms.

“The laws supporting Alberta workers had not seen significant updates in nearly 30 years,” said Notley. “While workers in other provinces benefited from three decades of new protections, Alberta’s workplace laws were still in bellbottoms.”

“Like you, we believe that no working Albertan, should have to stop off at the food bank on their way home. So, because of advice like yours, we set out to become the first province in Canada to have a $15 minimum wage. Friends, this October, that $15 minimum wage takes effect.”

Notley said her government was focused on making life better for working people, but opposition Conservatives wanted her to take the opposite approach and make it worse.

“The decision to support ordinary Albertans through the downturn wasn’t without its critics. They said we were killing the economy. Killing jobs. Killing dreams! You shouldn’t be investing in regular people, you should be giving tax breaks to the rich,” said Notley.

“Every time the boom turns to bust, the same voices emerge, demanding austerity, pain and tough love.

“But it’s not austerity, pain and tough love for them. It’s austerity, pain and tough-love for you. And for millions of Albertans just like you.”

“Well, my friends, we refused. Instead, we put the priorities of all Albertans first.”

“And you know what?  With the measures I mentioned and a whole whack more, our plan is working.  Exports are up. Manufacturing is up. Retail sales, drilling and jobs, all up.

“Last year Alberta created nearly 90,000 new, full-time jobs.  Today, there are 2.3 million Albertans working —the most people working than at any point in our history.”

“Because when you believe in working people and are guided by their hopes and values, good things happen.”

“Alberta has a government that stands firmly on the side of working people,” said Notley. “We’ve got your back.  I know you’ve got ours.”

Click here to see photos from the 2018 convention.

CUPE AB Executive Elections

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The following people were elected to positions with CUPE Alberta:

Secretary Treasurer: Elaine Moore

General Vice President North: Lise Bettac

Diversity Vice President: Elizabeth Bonk-Richards

Peace River Area VP: Randy Wald

Fort McMurray Area VP: Elaine Bambidge

NW Area VP: Sheila Stewart

NE Area VP: Joyce Baker

Edmonton Area VP: Lee-Ann Kalen

Red Deer Area VP: Brenda Reid

Calgary Area VP: Troy Killam

Lethbridge Area VP: Lottie Freijer-Poulsen

Medicine Hat Area VP: Brenda Barton

NE Alternate Area VP: Brody Stoddart

Calgary Alternate Area VP: Zac Lawrence

Trustee 3 Year: Lise Comeau

Equality Award given to Lorna Tollman

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CUPE Alberta lost a beloved family member in December with the death of CUPE 2545 President Lorna Tollman.

Tollman worked as an Educational Assistant at the Fort McMurray Public School District for over 35 years. She was President of Local 2545 for 25 years, likely the longest serving president in CUPE Alberta history.

In honour of her contributions to CUPE, Tollman has been given the 2018 Equality Award.

The Fort McMurray Today newspaper described her as “like a second mom to a lot of people.” Tollman worked with special needs students, helping them overcome obstacles life threw at them. After her death, flags at all Fort McMurray schools flew at half mast.

“I knew Lorna as a funny, friendly passionate advocate for her members,” said CUPE Alberta President Marle Roberts. “And if I can put this delicately, I always knew Lorna’s thoughts on a subject. Lorna was never very good at keeping quiet if she felt the need to tell you off.”

“Of course, that’s what makes a good union activist. No one ever fights for members silently.”

FLEURY: CUPE IS GROWING, BUT WE HAVE GROWING PAINS

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For the first time in years, CUPE Secretary Treasurer Charles Fleury is delivering a good news budget for CUPE National.

In his address to the CUPE Alberta convention, Fleury said CUPE’s latest budget included eighteen new staff positions to handle growth in membership and workload.

But with the growth comes growing pains. Fleury announced a Task Force on staffing to address changes to the organization.

“Since I was elected seven years ago, more than 230 staff have retired,” said Fleury. “Thirty-two percent of our staff now have fewer than five years on the job.”

“You can see why we believe it is now time to do a more in-depth review of our staffing challenges and how we can better support our staff and locals.”

Fleury said the task force would look at issues like the turnover caused by retirement, the challenge of servicing big locals that cover wide geographic areas, and how we handle new, emerging workplace issues as they develop.

Fleury also called upon delegates to work hard to support the re-election of the Alberta NDP Government. While the NDP hasn’t given labour everything we are looking for, they’ve made excellent first steps.

“It’s like a collective agreement,” said Fleury. “You don’t get everything you want the first time, so you keep working on it over a few rounds.”