The Health Care Workers Council (HCWC) will soon be welcoming 120 new members as the result of successful organizing drives at two Alberta retirement homes.
Workers at Chartwell St. Albert Retirement Residence, who work as LPNs, aides, dietary technicians, and more, received their union certification last month after overwhelming support for the organizing effort.
Recent changes to the province’s labor code, instituted by Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and the NDP, allowed them to bypass a union election by collecting cards from more than 65 percent of the unit.
Workers at another Chartwell residence in Sherwood Park, Alberta, did the same last week.
Health care organizers
The new members will join Local 1-207, which now has 11 health care units.
Local 1-207 President Ray White credits the speed and success of both drives to the two organizers on the ground, both of whom are health care workers.
“The difference between these two drives and ones in the past is that here the organizers were health care workers. Maybe they didn’t know as much about organizing as others, but they know the industry,” White said.
“They speak health care. They know the acronyms,” said White. “They also know the issues facing people at work and can empathize because they’ve lived it.”
Workers at both facilities intend to bargain to improve wages and working conditions, White said, particularly focusing on concerns over scheduling and seniority.
Alberta law requires the two sides to meet within 30 days after the union certificate is issued.
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