AHS Hiring Freeze .

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2013

One problem is the "scheduling optimization" Jan was mentioning. If AHS attempts to try to force existing nurses to work full time, many will undoubtedly drop their FTE's and revert to casual status. Then they will be scrambling. At my workplace, a few nurses and NAs have said they will not work 100 percent, no matter what.

manila07 · Apr 25, 2013

as I am new here can you please name a few small towns? I ahvent been around yet, just the C train area. thanks

weemsp · Apr 25, 2013

joanna73....

I couldn't agree more! It's like the blind leading the blind, deaf and dumb with AHS!!!

For longer than I can remember, 1.0 FTE was a rare gem to acquire!! Everyone who wanted full time was told " Oh no! That comes with seniority!" ( yet even senior RN's who wanted those FTE's had some excuse as to why they were available) I made great friends ( years ago) with a unit manager...and her explanation for the lack of fulltime rotations was that the overall expense associated with a fulltime FTE ( full benefits, insurance premiums, WCB deductibles, etc, etc) naturally increased. So they maintained the unit with as many .5 - .9 positions as possible.

Now??? They may try their hand in the reverse??? Yes, they will undoubtedly lose a good portion of staff.....then...." Oooops!! We called that one wrong...let's hire a bunch again!!"

The same " boom or bust" mentality!!!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 25, 2013

The whole drama is tiring, but laughable, too. All these executives and politicians making big money, and no one knows what they're doing. Every few years....sometimes every few months something else changes.

Now they want workers full time, yet it's the health authorities themselves who made the positions part time and casual. Ugh!

Fiona59 · Apr 25, 2013

Totally agree that AHS is run by idiots who ultimately the population of Alberta continues to re-elect, election after election.

I'm part time, whenever I try to increase my FTE, I'm told it's not in the budget but they can continually staff with casuals who recieve no benefits and expect to work M-F dayshifts with no weekends ever.

I too remember the days of very limited full time lines. Now, new grads expect a full time line. Many I've seen hired lately don't want to do shift or weekends. I know one young woman who landed a small FTE and has managed to avoid working every weekend in her rotation. She either mutuals them off, or gets the manager to shift her Saturdays to a day during the week that she'd rather work. When the staff that have been there a while try for the same treatment it doesn't happen. "We have to encourage and nurture new grads!" cries our manager. How about letting me have a Saturday off by the same arrangement so I can attend a wedding this summer? No go "because we need experienced staff on the floor at weekends".

What I really have issues with are nurses who have retired, are collecting various pensions and want to work casual. They are at the top of the payscales and only want the M-F dayshifts or the Friday evenings for the double premiums.

I understand that legally they are entitled to work as long as they can (and are safe) but when you are over 65, and wanting three days a week to fund your six months in the desert every winter, don't expect me to feel sorry for you and pick up the bits of the job you can't do anymore. Hire fresher grads who can lift, can stand.

I really think the only way out of this mess is to grieve every contract violation. Have your documentation in order and go to town. We all pay union dues, so let's utilize our respective unions.

Prairienurse1989 · Apr 28, 2013

I agree with Fiona, grieve everything. It makes me sick knowing that AHS is standing behind executive bonuses while asking front line employees to make "compromises during this lean fiscal time". To hell with them, grieve absolutely everything, every single thing that compromises your safety, sanity or license. I will not be stuffing my head in the sand. While we are all riding this out, we need to send a message that we will protect our rights, and expect our contract to be upheld. Write letters, file grievances, participate in union activities, anything and everything.

lilaclover6984 · Apr 29, 2013

I agree with Fiona grieve everything. It makes me sick knowing that AHS is standing behind executive bonuses while asking front line employees to make "compromises during this lean fiscal time". To hell with them, grieve absolutely everything, every single thing that compromises your safety, sanity or license. I will not be stuffing my head in the sand. While we are all riding this out, we need to send a message that we will protect our rights, and expect our contract to be upheld. Write letters, file grievances, participate in union activities, anything and everything.[/quote']
Yeah, I really don't understand why everyone is being so quiet about this and afraid to make any waves. We all need to unite and make some noise!

joanna73, BSN, RN · Apr 29, 2013

The unions are well aware of these developments. Our facility had two meetings involving AUPE and one with UNA during the last two months.

Some people file PRC forms regularly. Not sure about grievances though. There have also been numerous articles in the papers over the last several months about AHS tactics.

I personally haven't needed to file a grievance because if something occurs that's against the agreement, I bring it to management and things get sorted quickly. A grievance should be the final step. But if management continues to violate rights, then by all means grieve it.

I think the city centres have it the worst right now unfortunately. AHS needs to be put in place, especially concerning "scheduling optimization.

Danielle123 · Apr 15, 2020

I know this is an old forum but is there a hiring freeze again? I have applied for 153 jobs, anything and everything, all across Alberta and I haven't received one call for an interview. I have been in Calgary since September and even with COVID I cant get a job.

Fiona59 · Apr 16, 2020

6 hours ago, Kaitlyn said:
I know this is an old forum but is there a hiring freeze again? I have applied for 153 jobs, anything and everything, all across Alberta and I haven't received one call for an interview. I have been in Calgary since September and even with COVID I cant get a job.

If you've been watching the news, you should know that the UCP has declared war on the unions of this province.

COVID is not a hiring incentive. It's scary for those of us working. Those of us working in clinics and day surgeries are facing redeployment to where ever the powers that be decide to place us. Currently all casual shifts have been cancelled due to low census numbers on the units. Surgeries are being placed on hold with only cancer patients coming in.

Then to top it off, the government has frozen negotiations with the unions and promised not to lay off anyone until after May 31st.