Alberta nurses' union to host rallies on Saturday

The United Nurses of Alberta will set up rallies and information pickets at several locations around the province on Saturday. Jacqueline Wilson has details.

The United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) is hosting a day of action across the province on Saturday.

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Those attending the rallies are demanding improvements to staffing, patient care and call for more respect of frontline healthcare workers.

“The working conditions are so unsafe and the staffing levels aren’t adequate. This is something that impacts Albertans because our unsafe working conditions are your patient conditions,” said Erin Guyette, a registered nurse and UNA Local 115’s vice-president.

United Nurses of Alberta is in negotiations for a new provincial collective agreement.

The government has been working to decentralize the health-care system, saying it will improve the overburdened system.

According to UNA’s website, 13 events are planned across Alberta, including two in Calgary.

One is near the Southport Tower, on the southwest corner of Macleod Trail and Southland Drive, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The other at the base of the 16 Avenue pedestrian overpass at 29 Street N.W., near the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

CTV News has reached out to the Minister of Health’s office for comment.