The union representing licensed practical nurses and healthcare aides in Alberta says bargaining on a new contract has reached an impasse, saying workers will hit the picket lines starting Saturday morning.
AUPE says strike notice was serviced just before 8 a.m. Wednesday.
“Today, we once again lead the way as our union enters into the largest legal ESA strike in Alberta’s history. Today, we stand together in unprecedented unity and solidarity,” said AUPE president Sandra Azocar. “The gravity of this decision is not lost on any of us, as strike is the most fundamental right we hold as workers, a human right that protects our ability to stand up for fairness, dignity, and respect.
“These decisions are never easy. When workers take this step, they bring not only themselves to the picket line, but also the well-being of their families. No one chooses this lightly, but we reached a point where we had no choice.”
There is an essential service agreement (ESA) in place, meaning 78 per cent of LPNs and healthcare aides will continue going to work during the strike period.
The union says mediation hasn’t been successful this far.
Employees want the pay gap to close between registered nurses and licensed practical nurses, saying expanding scope of practice justifies and increase in wages.
The union and government are also “far apart,” according to AUPE, on professional development days, hours of work improvements, limits on banked overtime, improved on-call pay rates and schedules, mileage, benefits, and fees and insurance.
Lead AUPE negotiator Kate Robinson says latest bargaining talks took place over the weekend, and while there were some improvements on market adjustments for wages, the issues haven’t been resolved.
“The market adjustment proposal for the healthcare aides was two per cent and the market adjustment proposed for LPNs is 9.5 per cent. That sounds like a lot, but the problem with that is that does not close the gap between RNs and LPNs,” she explained. “The gap currently — before we started this round of bargaining — was $15 an hour. The proposal the employer has tabled, increases that gap to $20 an hour.
“In addition, their proposal does not place Alberta LPNs or Alberta healthcare aides at the top spot in Canada but it does for the RNs.”
AUPE wants the government and employer to return to the bargaining table with an improved mandate.
“There is still time to reach a fair deal at the bargaining table before we go on strike,” the union says.
Members of the union will receive strike pay via direct deposit.
This comes after union members voted 98 per cent in favour of strike earlier this month.
Union conscious notwithstanding clause a possibility
Notwithstanding is a buzzword in Alberta right now, thanks to the clause’s use to end the teachers’ strike and to prevent court challenges to three bills impacting transgender youth.
Azocar says the union is aware that the use of the notwithstanding clause is a possibility, but they are ready to take a stand if that happens.
“Any time that a government overuses and has overreach in terms of violating the rights of so many people — 51,000 teachers had their rights stripped from them — now, the trans youth of this province,” she added. “It’s shameful.
“At this point, we’re quite aware that that’s a possibility, but we’re also quite aware that we’re ready to take a stand if that’s what they choose to do.”
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