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Edmonton Judy Darcy, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees will be in Edmonton to join Alberta health care workers to launch a province-wide campaign that tackles the growing problem of overwork. Darcy will release data on workloads that clearly shows public sector workers are at the breaking point in health care and education.

When 82% of our members report they have problems finding time for one on one attention to residents and patients in health care facilities, the government and the health regions better listen, said Darcy. And when a similar number report added duties and increased stress on the job in health care facilities, its long past listening. Its time for action.

CUPEs workload campaign in Alberta will begin with health care workers and will expand to include workers in education and municipalities.

Health care workers are saying theyre tired and theyre not going to take it anymore, said Darcy. Across the country, CUPE members have been taking action to demand better working conditions. We have seen their determination on picket llines from Newfoundland to British Columbia, she said.

CUPEs President will be accompanied at the News Conference by CUPE Albertas President, Yvonne Fast, as well as several front line Alberta health care employees.

CUPEs National Executive Board is meeting in Edmonton on June 26th and 27th. The Board is comprised of elected representatives from across Canada. CUPE is Canadas largest union, representing 500,000 women and men, including 150,000 health care workers and 130,000 education workers.

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For more information, please call Ron Levesque, Communications Representative @ (780) 435-7631 or Pam Beattie, Executive Assistant to Judy Darcy @ (613) 761-8796.