Alberta nurses grieve layoffs
More than 200 layoffs will reduce quality of care, says nurses' union
Alberta nurses are grieving recent and future layoffs at hospitals and health centres across the province.
"Through this grievance, we are demanding that AHS cease reducing the quality of patient care that Albertans receive," said spokesperson Jane Sustrik in a news release.
The United Nurses of Alberta filed the grievance with Alberta Health Services late Monday.
AHS justifies the layoffs as fiscally necessary despite AHS documents showing a $106 million budget surplus, Sustrik said.
Layoffs affecting close to 200 nurses have been announced at Calgary Community Health, Edmonton Community Health, Edmonton's Glenrose Rehabilitation, University of Alberta, Stollery Children's and Royal Alexandra Hospitals, health centres in Bashaw, Black Diamond, and Okotoks and the Rockyview General Hospital in Calgary.