A new collective agreement between Alberta Health Services and nursing care workers across the province has been ratified, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees said.
Seventy-one per cent of members voted in favour. Among AHS employees, 63.3 per cent supported the deal, and 95 per cent of Allen Grey employees voted yes. The agreement runs retroactive from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2028.
“This was a long and frustrating process, but our members have officially raised the bar for collective agreements in this province,” AUPE president Sandra Azocar said.
Under the deal, licensed practical nurses will receive a 23.81 per cent wage increase and health-care aides 17.05 per cent. Retroactive pay will apply to hours worked since April 1, 2024. The agreement also boosts on-call rates and holiday on-call pay.
Finance Minister Nate Horner said securing a deal for LPNs and HCAs is welcome.
“After months of negotiations, we appreciate the collective effort it has taken for AHS and AUPE to reach an agreement,” Horner said. “The new agreement improves the salaries and benefits for almost 16,000 LPNs and HCAs and will help bring long-term stability to our health-care system.”
However, nursing care members at Lamont Health Care Centre did not ratify the agreement and will return to the bargaining table.
