Alberta Healthcare Workers Ratify New Deal, Strike Averted

Thousands of healthcare workers in Alberta have ratified a new four-year collective agreement, successfully averting a potential strike that had been set for last weekend. Almost 16,000 members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), including licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Allen Grey Continuing Care, approved the deal that outlines new wages and working conditions through to March 31, 2028.

The agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2024, and reflects the outcome of a voting process in which approximately 71 percent of AUPE members participated. Among AHS employees, 63.3 percent voted in favor, while a significant 95 percent of those at Allen Grey Continuing Care supported the new terms.

Notably, nursing care members at Lamont Health Care Centre opted to reject the agreement in a separate vote and will continue negotiations. AUPE President Sandra Azocar described the ratification as the culmination of “a long and frustrating process,” asserting that members “have officially raised the bar for collective agreements in this province.”

Key Features of the Agreement

The ratified agreement introduces several important changes, particularly regarding wage increases and shift premiums. Licensed practical nurses will see a wage increase of 23.81 percent, while healthcare aides will benefit from a 17.05 percent increase. Members will also receive retroactive payments for hours worked since the beginning of April 2024.

Other highlights include:

– Responsibility Premium: increased from $1.25 to $3.50 per hour
– Preceptor Pay: raised from $0.65 to $2.00 per hour
– Regular On-Call: increased from $3.30 to $7.00 per hour
– Named Holiday On-Call: raised from $4.50 to $7.00 per hour
– Rural Capacity Investment Fund: $4.368 million for 2024, with $12.6 million allocated annually from 2025 to 2027

Government Response

The agreement has garnered positive reactions from government officials. Nate Horner, President of the Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, expressed gratitude for the efforts that led to the agreement. In a statement, he acknowledged the months of negotiations and highlighted the improvements this deal brings to the salaries and benefits of nearly 16,000 licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides.

He emphasized the importance of the agreement for bringing long-term stability to Alberta’s healthcare system, saying, “The new agreement improves the salaries and benefits for almost 16,000 LPNs and HCAs.”

The ratification follows a tense negotiation period, during which the threat of a strike loomed large. A tentative agreement was reached just before the planned job action on November 22, marking a significant milestone for the healthcare workforce in Alberta.

This new collective agreement not only aims to enhance the working conditions of healthcare workers but also sets a precedent for future negotiations as AUPE members prepare for the next bargaining cycle in 2028.