Unions urge AHS to bring back special paid leave for health care workers

AUPE and UNA urging AHS to bring back special paid leave. It comes as health care workers feel the pressures of dealing with the pandemic, and as an outbreak continues to grow at Foothills Medical Centre. Jackie Perez reports.

CALGARY (CityNews) – Unions are calling for Alberta Health Services (AHS) to bring back special paid leave for health care workers forced to self isolate because of COVID-19.

This comes as health professionals in the province feel the pressures of dealing with the pandemic, as an outbreak continues to grow at Foothills Hospital.

“We have an order that says you must self-quarantine but there’s nothing to say how you’re going to pay mortgage or how you’re going to pay your bills or how you’re going to feed your family when you’re being made to self-quarantine,” said Susan Slade with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), who is calling for the special paid leave to be reinstated.

When the pandemic started, AHS provided paid leave for staff forced to self isolate due to COVID-19. That program ended in July.

The United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) is also hearing from its members who say they’re running through their sick leave and vacation pay, suffering financial hardship because they have to take unpaid time off work.

“We’re not asking for the moon and the stars. our people are working hard, they’re working extra shifts, they’re working short-staffed. We’re just saying look if they need to self isolate at least provide them a paid leave for that period of time,” said David Harrigan with the UNA

In an emailed statement to CityNews, AHS said, “All staff who are directed to self-isolate for COVID-19 will be provided sick leave, salary continuance or short term disability, if eligible under their Collective Agreement or Terms and Conditions of Employment.”

“That’s fine and dandy but again that says if you are eligible, which means if you used all your sick time, you don’t have any left so you won’t be paid. If you’re a casual worker you will not be paid. Everyone should be eligible because they are in there working and through no fault of their own might have to self isolate,” said Slade.

Both unions want to see more from AHS and the provincial government.

“Reinstate the special leave and allow people to do their job like they have been for the last six months,” said Slade. “Start treating them like heroes. Stop saying they’re heroes, actually start treating them that way.”

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