Devonshire Care nurses set to strike

Nurses at Devonshire Care Centre are set to walk off the job and onto the picket line Monday afternoon.

The 15 registered nurses voted Dec. 14 to strike, but decided to wait until after Christmas as a gesture of good faith and because job action is stressful for residents, said David Harrigan, director of labour relations for United Nurses of Alberta.

The union has been negotiating a first agreement with B.C.- based Park Place Seniors Living, which owns Devonshire, for more than a year.

“Everyone’s disappointed things have had to come to this point,” said Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta.

The company couldn’t be reached for comment.

When factors such as shift differentials are factored in, the nurses at Devonshire are paid about $9 an hour less than nurses in other facilities, including Hardisty Care Centre, Harrigan said.

Park Place Seniors Living also owns Hardisty Care Centre, where a strike took place earlier this year before a contract was signed.

The union has a bargaining meeting set for Jan. 10.

Employees at Devonshire were set to strike earlier this year, when 180 licensed practical nurses and support staff threatened job action before an agreement was reached.

Devonshire is located at 1808 Rabbit Hill Rd.