Dear Editor;
I am writing to you as a part of the AUPE health care workers as we are now in contract negotiations. We are licensed practical nurses, operating room technicians, orthopedic techs, dialysis assistants, health care aids, home care and mental health aids, recreation and physiotherapy aids.
We are dietary, administrative/clerical, housekeeping, trades, maintenance, and too many to write. We are the backbone of a hospital. We are not registered nurses. We did not receive the very large wage increase. We did not receive the increase in health benefits. We did not receive an increase in shift differential, special leave days, education, bonuses or any other benefits that the registered nurses received on their last two contracts.
We all work shift work. We all have the same health issues. We all have families. We all continue to take education courses to improve ourselves to help you better. We all work just as hard, are short staffed, and work a lot of overtime. We all have the same cost of living increases.
So please tell me why are we considered less important and unworthy?
Brenda Bailer
LPN/ Ortho. Tech.
ER Dept.
Millet, Alta.