CALGARY – A group of about 135 employees of Age Care Beverly seniors’ home have joined the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
The employees, which include Nursing Assistants, Personal Care Workers, Occupational Therapists and Recreational Therapists, voted 92% in favour of joining a union.
CUPE Alberta President D’Arcy Lanovaz said the employees approached the union with concerns about staffing levels, lack of overtime pay, and lack of a pension plan or RRSP program.
“The working conditions at Age Care are significantly worse than conditions at other seniors’ facilities where CUPE represents the employees,” said Lanovaz. “These employees are below the standard at union facilities and we will work hard to bring their wages and working conditions into line.”
CUPE represents about 6,000 health care workers in Alberta, and is the largest union of health care workers in Canada.
Age Care Beverly has about 200 residents.
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For more information about CUPE Alberta, visit www.alberta.cupe.ca