The staff at Points West Living in Cold Lake have officially voted to go on strike.
The vote was held last night after over a year of negotiations. AUPE – who is representing the workers – claims that pay between the company’s locations varies greatly and is generally below industry standards. High staff turnover has been voiced as a concern as well.
Once the vote clears with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, workers will need to provide 72 hours notice of a strike. The facility says they have a plan B in case for this scenario. “Points West Living – Cold Lake has a rigorous contingency plan that will be implemented in case of a strike,” a press release from management reads. “Our contingency plan has been vetted by Alberta Health Services and will ensure the care and safety of residents is maintained without interruption.”
Workers previously held information pickets outside the facility back in November in an attempt to inform the public of their position. A moderator was brought onboard in December, but a solution is yet to be reached.