Union serves strike notice at Edmonton seniors home

About 80 licensed practical nurses, health care aides and support staff at a southwest Edmonton retirement home plan to go on strike next week in a dispute over wages.

The employees of the Revera Riverbend Retirement Residence who are represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees served notice that they plan to walk off the job at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday.

"Revera hasn’t put forward a serious bargaining position that recognizes the value of nursing and support staff in delivering quality care to Riverbend seniors," said AUPE  president Guy Smith in a news release.

AUPE claims retirement home operator Revera Inc. pays Riverbend LPNs and health care aides 14 per cent and 11 per cent less than the industry standard. Wages for workers like cooks and housekeepers 30 per cent lower, AUPE says.

The union says the company's opening offer was just over one per cent annually over three years.

If the workers walk off the job on Tuesday, it will be the second strike at a seniors home in Edmonton.

A strike involving 100 LPNs and health care aides at the Hardisty Care Centre started on May 22.