Despite budget increases, Alberta still has catching up to do, AUPE president says
EDMONTON – Happiness with spending increases on health care and new government employment set out in Tuesday’s provincial budget should be tempered by recognition that Alberta still must catch up with population growth and the effects of cutbacks that took place in the 1990s, says the president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
“Our union’s members were relieved and generally pleased by the direction taken by the provincial government in this budget,” said AUPE President Doug Knight.
He noted that the budget includes provisions for an increase of 1,317 direct government employees and an 8 per cent increase in operating grants to health authorities, with the pledge that no health authority will receive less than a 6-per-cent increase.
“However, we need to remember that health care, government and education in Alberta are all coping with dramatic population growth and a frantic pace of economic activity,” Knight said. “The action taken by the government in the budget only goes part way to addressing that reality.
“It’s important to remember that we have not yet fully recovered from the cutbacks to the Alberta Public Service that took place in the mid-1990s, especially in light of fast-paced population and economic growth since then,” he said.
Knight said AUPE was particularly pleased the government had responded to AUPE members’ concerns about short staffing in Children and Youth Services by announcing the addition of 148 full-time positions in that department.
However, he noted, “the government will have to address recruitment and retention issues in this area if it is going to be able to fill these positions.”
In health care, Knight said the government appears to be sending mixed messages on the sustainability of the system.
“We believe eliminating health care premiums is a sound policy, but it concerns us that the province is eliminating a billion dollars in revenue at the same time as it is publicly raising questions about the long-term sustainability of the health care system,” he said.
“AUPE is now in negotiations on behalf of well over 30,000 front-line heath sector workers, approximately 27,000 of whom are direct employees of Alberta health authorities,” he noted. “Politically driven rhetoric about the sustainability of the system must not be used to try to deny these working people the significant pay improvements they need to keep up with market rates in other jurisdictions and the cost of living in Alberta.”
“Alberta can afford to pay its front-line health care workers what they deserve,” Knight stated, pointing to the likelihood Alberta will enjoy a huge budget surplus if the price of oil remains at current levels, as expected. The budget is based on an oil price off $78 US per barrel; oil closed Tuesday at $119.37 US.
Knight also said it is imperative that bargaining move to an agreement quickly, and that health region employers not use the government’s intention to restructure health region governance as an excuse to drag out negotiations.
For more information, contact:
Doug Knight, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-265-6655 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, ASUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)