Key Takeaways:
- The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) reached a tentative deal with Alberta Health Services (AHS) for 16,000 nursing-care workers.
- The deal includes a 12 per cent wage increase over four years for all employees in the bargaining unit.
- Salary market adjustments of four per cent for health-care aides and 10 per cent for licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are also included, retroactive to April 1, 2024.
- The union had given strike notice on Wednesday after bargaining fell apart over wages, but called off the strike after reaching a tentative agreement.
- Union members must still ratify the tentative agreement.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), a union representing some Alberta hospital workers, has reached a tentative deal with Alberta Health Services (AHS) after a brief strike on Saturday. The union, which had given strike notice on Wednesday after bargaining fell apart over wages, announced via social media early Saturday morning that a deal still hadn’t been reached, prompting members to start labour action after the 8:30 a.m. deadline passed. However, just after 9 a.m., the union called off the strike, citing a tentative agreement with AHS for 16,000 nursing-care workers, including licensed practical nurses and health-care aides.
According to AUPE president Sandra Azocar, the union had negotiated with AHS until about 1 a.m. on Saturday, but didn’t receive a call until later that morning, leaving only minutes to spare before the strike deadline. The reversal came after the parties brokered a tentative agreement "mere minutes before our strike was scheduled to begin," according to a statement on the AUPE’s website. The union’s lead negotiator, Kate Robinson, announced the details of the tentative agreement during a news conference on Saturday morning, stating that it includes a 12 per cent wage increase over four years for all employees in the bargaining unit.
The deal also includes salary market adjustments of four per cent for health-care aides and 10 per cent for LPNs, retroactive to April 1, 2024. These adjustments aim to address the wage disparities between Alberta’s healthcare workers and those in other provinces. The tentative agreement is a significant development in the ongoing labour dispute between the AUPE and AHS, which had been negotiating for several weeks. The union had been seeking better wages and working conditions for its members, who have been facing increased workloads and staffing shortages in the healthcare sector.
The strike, although brief, had the potential to disrupt healthcare services across Alberta, with many hospitals and healthcare facilities relying on the workers represented by the AUPE. The union’s decision to call off the strike and reach a tentative agreement with AHS is a welcome development for patients and healthcare workers alike. However, the deal still needs to be ratified by union members, who will have the final say on whether to accept the terms of the agreement. The ratification process is expected to take place in the coming weeks, with the union encouraging its members to participate in the vote.
The tentative agreement between the AUPE and AHS is a significant step towards resolving the labour dispute, but it also highlights the ongoing challenges facing Alberta’s healthcare sector. The province’s healthcare system has been under strain in recent years, with staffing shortages, budget cuts, and increased demand for services all taking a toll on healthcare workers. The AUPE’s efforts to secure better wages and working conditions for its members are part of a broader push to address these challenges and ensure that Alberta’s healthcare system is adequately funded and staffed to meet the needs of patients.
In conclusion, the tentative agreement between the AUPE and AHS is a positive development for Alberta’s healthcare sector, but it is only the first step towards resolving the ongoing labour dispute. The union’s members will have the final say on whether to accept the terms of the agreement, and the province’s healthcare system will continue to face challenges in the months and years to come. However, the deal is a significant step towards recognizing the value and contributions of healthcare workers, and towards ensuring that they receive fair compensation and working conditions for their critical work.