Alberta hospitals apply to stop collecting union dues

EDMONTON (CP) - Alberta hospitals want to cripple the province's largest union for staging an illegal health-care strike by not collecting dues from employees, a union official says. The Provincial Health Authorities of Alberta went before the Labour Relations Board Tuesday to apply to stop collecting union dues from Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members for up to six months.

If successful, the move would cost the union up to $2 million.

"It's to scare unions off in the future and to punish us," said union president Dan MacLennan.

"I don't like to refer to people as evil. But they're dishonest and evil."

More than 11,000 union members walked off the job for two days last May at hospitals across Alberta to back contract demands.

As a result of the walkout, health authorities agreed to wage increases of up to 16 per cent over two years. They had originally offered raises of between seven and 12 per cent over three years.

While the union was fined $400,000 for the strike, the health authorities - which receive their funding directly from the Conservative government - made it clear they wanted more sanctions.

"Since 1988 unions in health care have taken illegal strike action," said Randy Kilburn, spokesman for the health authorities. "Maybe dues suspension will break that cycle."

While Alberta labour law allows for such a sanction, it has never been used before.

"Certainly it's a message to other health care unions that the rules need to be followed," Kilburn said.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers applied for intervener status at the hearing but was denied.

"The impact on the rights of workers in Alberta will demand action from other unions from across the country," said Pascale Sonia Roi, a lawyer for the postal union. "It goes to the root of how unions represent their members."

Other Alberta labour groups were also on hand to show support for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, said she isn't surprised the health authorities is making the unusual move.

"This government wants unions crippled, some would say it wants unions dead," said Smith, whose union has been fined in the past for staging illegal strikes.

Smith said the health authorities and the province might being trying to intimidate the nurses union before it goes into bargaining next year.

"We've got a government that will always try and beat into submission rather than address issues."