Nursing care staff, represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, have overwhelmingly voted in favor of strike action, with a resounding 98% majority. The voting process took place from October 30 to November 3, during which 11,031 union members participated. Sandra Azocar, the president of AUPE, expressed that the decision to strike was driven by frustrations over stagnant wages and unsafe working conditions impacting both workers and patients within Alberta’s public health care system. The breakdown of negotiations between AUPE and their employer, Alberta Health Services, along with four other organizations that succeeded the former provincial health authority, occurred back in April. Mediation discussions are scheduled to resume on Thursday.
The union, comprising mainly licensed practical nurses and health care aides totaling 16,000 members, may issue a strike notice as early as November 17. Despite a preference for fulfilling their duties, members are prepared to take action to demand fair treatment, as emphasized by Azocar. This potential strike follows a recent three-week walkout by teachers represented by the Alberta Teachers’ Association, which ended when provincial legislation, utilizing the notwithstanding clause to prevent legal challenges, mandated their return to work.
Alberta’s Finance Minister and President of the Treasury Board, Nate Horner, expressed disappointment regarding the strike vote outcome. The government has proposed a 12% wage increase over a four-year period, aligning this offer with numerous other settlements reached across the public sector. AUPE’s request for substantial pay raises for licensed practical nurses to nearly match those of registered nurses, ranging from 40% to 55%, along with reduced annual work hours, presents a significant cost exceeding $2 billion.
AUPE’s lead negotiator, Kate Robinson, highlighted disparities in pay between LPNs and RNs, emphasizing that LPNs perform 84% of the duties of RNs but receive only 67% of their compensation. Comparing Alberta’s LPN wages to those in Manitoba, where LPNs earn 81% of an RN’s salary, Robinson underscored the necessity for wage parity and progression within the profession. With health care aides set to become a regulated occupation in February, negotiations are further complicated.
While the union has an essential services agreement in place for potential strike scenarios, Robinson noted existing staffing shortages in certain areas, indicating a vacancy rate of 10 to 12%. Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi criticized the government for disregarding safety concerns raised by AUPE, implying a potential misuse of the notwithstanding clause to suppress strikes. However, Minister Horner clarified that such extreme measures were unlikely, considering the distinct bargaining dynamics in this case.
Jason Foster, a human resources and labor relations expert at Athabasca University, suggested the government might be tempted to use the notwithstanding clause again, given recent labor disputes and economic strains resulting from the pandemic and inflation. He highlighted the broader context of labor unrest across the nation, indicating possible discontent among Alberta’s public sector workers following the government’s intervention in the teachers’ strike using exceptional legislative measures.
