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Courts likely to make EMS, AADAC ruling in 2011

'We are sensitive to the growing anxiety of these health care workers, who have been patiently awaiting an outcome in this convoluted matter for more than a year.' - HSAA's Lynette McAvoy.

Edmonton (9 March 2010) - The Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) has issued a decision that will significantly delay the outcome regarding union representation for close to 1,700 emergency medical services (EMS) and Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission (AADAC) health care workers.

The board has granted a stay to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) allowing it time to appeal a case to the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench on behalf of 1,200 EMS employees it currently represents.

The Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE), which currently represents more than 400 AADAC employees, will also look to the Alberta courts for determination. The labour board had previously issued a decision that would place the 1,700 EMS and AADAC employees within the bargaining unit of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE).

The change was precipitated by the transition last year from nine to one health care regions in Alberta.

"HSAA will continue to respect the process and honour the right of another union to explore all of its legal options," says Lynette McAvoy, HSAA's director of labour relations.

"However, we are sensitive to the growing anxiety of these health care workers, who have been patiently awaiting an outcome in this convoluted matter for more than a year. Thanks, in part, to today's decision, they'll now have to wait until next year."

As a result of the board's latest decision that further delays the outcome, HSAA has cancelled EMS meetings across the province that were scheduled to commence on March 15. EMS and AADAC members impacted by the latest decision are encouraged to visit www.hsaa.ca for further updates as they become available.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE