The lockout of AUPE employees at Points West Living is dragging into its ninth week.
The locked out employees cite staffing and scheduling problems as well as inadequate training as their main complaints in the dispute. Temporary workers have been working at the assisted-living facility since December 17th. Since then the facility has come under investigation from AHS relating to an ex-patient’s death.
Locked-out workers got a bit of a morale boost this month when it was announced the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) would be joining them on the picket line in solidarity.
Points West says they’re offering a very good deal for their employees, adding they’ve settled deals in their other facilities that have lower payscales than what they’ve offered to their Cold Lake staff.
Negotiations appear to remain sparse at this time and no end to the lockout appears to be in sight.