The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) held a rally in front of the Wetaskiwin Hospital and Care Centre on Nov. 7, continuing their fight for respectful bargaining from the province.
AUPE vice president for the central region Darren Graham said there was a good turnout, from members and non-members, as well as support from the public.
"There were lots of honks and waves and support," said Graham.
"I think word is starting to spread."
Some of the unions that joined them included Canada Post employees, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.
Graham said it's not just health care that's at risk of collapsing, but the whole public service sector, if the government won't start paying workers a living wage.
"We have population increases, staff shortages and no new funding," said Graham. "It's a recipe for the public systems to fail."
AUPE has continued to organize rallies for negotiations in communities across the province following the over 50 bargaining town halls held by the union in June, but the government hasn't budged on their offer of a 7.5 per cent increase over four years.
AUPE says a 25 per cent increase over three years is what's needed to give public sector workers an actual living wage when inflation is considered.
He added if the province keeps Alberta wages low, their members will start to move elsewhere.
"We need to be attracting health care workers and public servants but we're not offering competitive wages," said Graham.
Graham said AUPE is asking for respectful negotiations where their voices are heard and the proposals they've put forward are actually received and discussed at the negotiation table, but all negotiations are being controlled by the UCP.
"We're continuing to see roadblocks from the government as far as an effect on negotiations," said Graham, adding the stall tactics keep coming as the UCP government continues to hand out millions of dollars to private services rather than the public sector.
Graham said while the AUPE is keeping the pressure on the protect public services, health care in rural Alberta still seems to be shifting to Convenant Health.
"The problem is, not all services are available at Covenant Health facilities because of religious excemptions and beliefs, and that's fine, but there's still a group of Albertans that deserve the health care they need as well," said Graham.
Graham says the premier is blaming all of the issues on Alberta Health Services (AHS), but AHS is controlled by the government.
"It's just a funny rhetoric when you think about it," said Graham.
