Edmonton hospital workers walk off job in wildcat
A one-day walkout by health support workers in Edmonton has ended and AUPE has agreed to send the contract dispute with Alberta Health Services to binding arbitration, health officials announced late Thursday afternoon.
“Staff involved in the wildcat strike should be back at work within two hours,” said Chris Mazurkewich, chief operating officer and executive vice-president with Alberta Health Services.
The agreement between AUPE and AHS guarantees that workers will not be disciplined or face legal action for walking off the job on Thursday.
In a news release, AUPE President Guy Smith called on workers to return to work immediately to “ensure they are protected.”
Hundreds of service workers at Edmonton’s Royal Alexandra Hospital started their strike at 7 a.m. Thursday. They were followed by about 40 workers at the University of Alberta Hospital and others at the Northeast Community Health Centre.
