Hat numbers for Covenant’s 225 layoffs unknown

Covenant Health says 225 employees will be affected in a government plan to privatize some of its services, but just how many of these employees are in Medicine Hat is not yet clear.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees announced Friday that it had been notified by Covenant Health of the 225 members that will lose their jobs as a result of privatization of some services.

This includes foods and environmental services, laundry and also transcription services.

Last week Alberta Health Services released a request for proposals for laundry services like those at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.

A spokesperson for Covenant Health says the RFP for laundry services will not impact St. Joseph’s Home and Carmel Hospice but the response is less clear regarding food services.

“AHS has also indicated it will explore contracting food services in the future. Details of that RFP have not been established at this time,” reads an emailed statement from Karen Diaper, communications manager for Covenant Health.

Questions specifically about whether food service in Medicine Hat at Covenant Health will be contracted out and how many people will be affected, remain unanswered.

“It’s bad news after bad news for workers,” said Bonnie Gostola, AUPE vice president. “To know that the UCP is enlisting outside organizations, like Covenant Health, in its attack on us, though — in the middle of a pandemic is disturbing.”

Covenant Health is the largest Catholic health-care provider in Canada. It was established in 2008 after regional Catholic health-care providers were amalgamated. It is governed by a board of directors appointed by, and accountable to, the Catholic Bishops of Alberta.

Covenant Health employs more than 14,000 people in 16 facilities, located in 11 communities, in Alberta in co-operation with AHS. Covenant

Health provides acute care, continuing care, assisted living, hospice, rehabilitation, respite care, and seniors’ housing.

St. Joseph’s Home in Medicine Hat was opened by the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus in 1951. In 2011, St. Joseph’s Home became part of the Covenant Health as did Carmel Hospice which is located in St. Joseph’s and provides palliative end-oflife care.

Covenant Health also purchased the former Riverside School with the intention of establishing a seniors’ residence there.

Covenant Health, like AHS, is funded by the provincial government.

NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE Covenant Health will contract out some of its services resulting in the loss of 225 jobs across the province. How many of these will be in Medicine Hat, the organization is not saying. In Medicine Hat, Covenant Health operates St. Joseph’s seniors’ residence and Carmel Hospice.