EDMONTON — Alberta plans to eliminate 500 nursing positions over the next three years in what the union representing registered nurses calls a betrayal of trust and a broken promise to maintain front-line care. David Harrigan, labour negotiator for the United Nurses of Alberta, says the move by Alberta Health Services means at least 750 nurses will be out of work once job-sharing is factored in. It likely means more privatization,” Harrigan said Friday after learning of the decision in a meeting with the health agency. In the letter, AHS said jobs will be eliminated through attrition until the end of March, after which it will use “all options” it has under the collective bargaining agreement. “Total (full-time equivalent) impact over the next three years is estimated to be 500,” Raelene Fitz, lead negotiator for AHS, said in the letter.

Source: Huffington Post November 29, 2019 22:30 UTC