Are Employees at Alberta's long-Term Care Facilities an Essential Service?

Original Air Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012

Strike action at several continuing care facilities in Alberta has prompted calls for a change to labour laws.  The Alberta Continuing Care Association says the province should restrict job action, citing concerns over resident and worker safety.

Labour experts say changing provincial legislation will not necessarily prevent job action, and the union maintains something must to be done to protect what it calls a vulnerable workforce in privately-run care facilities.

Should all nursing home staff have the right to strike, or should their work be declared an essential service?

Joining us for this discussion is Bruce West, Executive Director of the Alberta Continuing Care Association; Guy Smith, President of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees; and Kelly Williams-Whitt, Associate Professor of Labour Relations at the University of Lethbridge's Calgary campus.