Ninety-eight per cent of Alberta Health Services Nursing Care members have voted in favour of strike action.
According to a release from the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, the officials of the vote are unofficial, but says the vote is a clear and decisive strike mandate. The soonest that the union could provide a strike notice is November 17th.
In response to this vote, UCP Finance Minister Nate Horner issued a statement saying that he is disappointed in this vote. Horner says that Licensed practical nurses deserve to be recognized for their skills and education, along with acknowledgement that they provide direct nursing care. However, the Finance Minister says the unions’ “demands” that LPNs be paid almost the same as registered nurses and bargaining for salary increases of 40 to 55 per cent. He explains that while LPNs are important, the fact that they do not have the same education or extensive scope of practice as RNs is something that is taken into consideration.
“The union is also requesting reduced annual hours of work, which would result in the same overall pay but for less work. We deeply value the dedication of Alberta’s nurses, but right now, reducing hours would make it harder to deliver the health care Albertans depend on.”
He says he is unaware of health care workers in any other part of the country who have received a similar salary increase. He says it is estimated that the current proposal from the union would cost Albertans more than $2 billion.
“AHS’s offer to AUPE provides the entire auxiliary nursing care bargaining unit with a 12 per cent wage increase over four years – consistent with agreements reached with other public service employees, including the civil service and RNs.”
Horner is encouraging the union to reconsider the proposal and come back to the bargaining table with a counteroffer that is “reasonable and fair.”
Horner says he has no further comment at this time with respect to the bargaining process.
AHS and the AUPE are scheduled for mediation from tomorrow until Sunday.
