The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has announced that its members, who are nurses in the province, will be voting on whether or not to go on strike. This decision comes after informal mediation talks between the union and the Alberta government were unsuccessful.
The AUPE represents over 30,000 nurses in Alberta, and their current collective agreement with the government is set to expire at the end of March. The union has been in negotiations with the government since October, but talks have reached an impasse.
According to the AUPE, the main issues at stake are wages, job security, and working conditions. The union is seeking a wage increase of 3% per year, while the government has offered a 0% increase for the first year and a 1% increase for the following two years.
In addition, the union is concerned about job security, as the government has proposed changes to the collective agreement that would allow for more temporary and casual positions. The union argues that this would lead to a decrease in job stability and negatively impact patient care.
The AUPE also wants to address working conditions, including concerns about understaffing and excessive workloads. The union claims that these issues have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and are putting a strain on nurses’ mental and physical health.
Despite several rounds of negotiations and the involvement of a mediator, the two sides have been unable to reach a resolution. As a result, the AUPE has announced that its members will be voting on whether or not to go on strike. The vote will take place from February 15 to 29, and if a majority of members vote in favor of a strike, the union will have a mandate to take job action.
In response to the strike vote, the Alberta government has stated that it remains committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable agreement with the AUPE. The government also emphasized that it values the hard work and dedication of nurses and is committed to ensuring they are fairly compensated.
The last time Alberta nurses went on strike was in 1988, and it lasted for 10 days. If the current strike vote is successful, it would be the first time in over 30 years that nurses in the province have taken job action.
In the meantime, the AUPE and the government have agreed to continue informal mediation talks in the hopes of reaching a resolution before the strike vote results are announced. Both sides have expressed a desire to avoid a strike and reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
The outcome of the strike vote and the future of negotiations between the AUPE and the Alberta government will have significant implications for the healthcare system in the province. As the situation continues to unfold, it is clear that both sides are committed to finding a solution that will benefit nurses and the patients they care for.
