Nursing care staff, represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action, with a resounding 98 percent approval rate. The vote, held between October 30 and November 3, saw a significant turnout, with 11,031 members casting their ballots.
At a recent news conference in Edmonton, AUPE president Sandra Azocar expressed that the decision to strike was driven by frustrations over stagnant wages and unsafe working conditions that impact both workers and patients within Alberta’s public health care system. Talks between AUPE and the employer, Alberta Health Services, along with the four organizations that took over from the previous provincial health authority, had reached an impasse in April. Mediation discussions are scheduled to resume on Thursday.
The group of 16,000 members, primarily composed of licensed practical nurses and health care aides, may issue a strike notice as early as November 17. Azocar emphasized that while members prefer to carry out their duties, they are ready to assert their rights and take necessary job actions.
The potential strike by AUPE nursing care staff follows a recent strike by teachers represented by the Alberta Teachers’ Association, who were compelled to return to work by provincial legislation employing the notwithstanding clause to bypass court challenges.
Alberta’s Finance Minister and President of the Treasury Board, Nate Horner, expressed disappointment with the strike vote outcome, citing the government’s offer of a 12 percent wage increase over four years as fair and competitive, aligning with numerous other public sector settlements.
Regarding LPN pay demands, AUPE aims to elevate LPNs’ salaries to nearly match those of registered nurses, proposing increases ranging from 40 to 55 percent, alongside requests for reduced annual hours of work. This proposal is estimated to exceed $2 billion. Kate Robinson, the lead negotiator for AUPE, highlighted the discrepancy between LPN and RN salaries, emphasizing the need for equitable compensation.
The upcoming regulation of health care aides in February adds another layer to the negotiation process. The union has outlined essential services agreements in case of a strike, but with existing staffing shortages in certain areas, challenges may arise.
With ongoing labor unrest nationwide, heightened by economic challenges post-COVID-19 and inflation, Professor Jason Foster from Athabasca University noted the potential for further government intervention, possibly through the notwithstanding clause. The aftermath of the government’s use of this clause in the teachers’ strike has left public sector workers in Alberta wary of its implications.