COVID-19 Edition - LabourNEWS Mar. 20, 2020

During this time of a global health pandemic, we want to stay in touch and share our continued work with you. Below you will find releases from the AFL, as well as, resources to help navigate supports being made available. News Labour's Response Plan for Alberta This week, Premier Kenney rammed through a budget that will result in job losses and further cuts. We are facing a global health pandemic while also suffering from a massive drop in the price of oil. At a time like this, Albertans need our government to step up with support, not step on us with austerity. Yesterday, Alberta labour leaders unanimously supported an 8-point response plan for during this crisis. Taken together, we think our suggestions will help us "flatten the curve" of infection; fortify our health care system; and ward off the collapse of our economy. See Labour's response and proposed approach here. Lack of Surge Capacity As we watch communities around the globe grapple with COVID-19's effects on their health care systems, questions arise about whether Alberta is prepared to handle this health crisis. We are raising the alarm that we do not have adequate resources in place for a surge of patients and we are calling on Premier Kenney to immediately act to address capacity by opening more acute care and intensive care hospital beds. Read our release on a lack in surge capacity here. Kenney Must Provide Paid Sick Leave Albertans need certainty and support during the pandemic caused by COVID-19. If we want Albertans to follow the advice of public health officials and stay home when their sick, they need to know that they will still be paid. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been publicly demanding just that. Last week, Premier Kenney recognized this issue and announced that he would provide Albertans with paid sick leave, BUT unfortunately, this week, he backtracked and announced he would ensure workers have access to unpaid sick leave. We think that the Premier misleading Albertans during a crisis is unacceptable. The Premier needs to act now to fix this, which is why it's an important part of labour's 8-point response plan. Resources Alberta Government COVID-19 Resource: https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx Alberta Health: Help in Tough Times Resource: https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/amh/Page16759.aspx Government of Canada COVID-19 Programs and Support: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html Take Action Follow Us Online Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more regular updates as issues unfold. We encourage you to share relevant information with your networks.

Alberta Federation of Labour 10408 124 St, #300, Edmonton, AB T5N 1R5, Canada