Alberta nurses say 'serious problems' arising as contract talks falter, strike vote looms
Alberta's nurses could soon find themselves on the picket line as recent talks with the province foundered over disagreements around pay and staffing.
David Harrigan, the United Nurses of Alberta director of labour relations, says informal mediation meetings last month were productive but the gap between the two sides seems too big to bridge.
"Unfortunately, I think the gulf is just too big," Harrigan said in an interview earlier this week.
The union, which represents more than 30,000 nurses, is seeking 30 per cent pay raises spread over two years while the Alberta government's standing offer is 7.5 per cent over four years.
Harrigan said the two sides also find themselves far apart on operational issues, specifically staffing shortages and how to manage the resulting workplace conditions.
"I think both (sides) recognize there are some real, serious, serious problems," he said.
"It's just that we have completely different views on how to solve those problems."
Harrigan said the province wants to remove an existing contract clause that requires Alberta Health Services to try and fill job vacancies from within the bargaining unit before hiring outside candidates.
"They want to say that article does not apply for one year and (Alberta Health Services) gets to hire whoever they want," Harrigan said.
"We think the way to do things is improve the job conditions and then you'll be able to recruit people."
Bumping pay for nurses is a significant part of improving job conditions, Harrigan said, especially since wages have not kept pace with inflation.
"They're having a huge recruitment problem," he said. "Why on earth would they think that offering people less rights and (salary) increases that are less than the cost of living would be the way to address that?"
Since 2013, Alberta's nurses have received a combined wage increase of 11.5 per cent and five years of wage freezes.
More than half of that pay increase was obtained before 2018.
Health Minister Adriana LaGrange said Thursday she couldn't speak to the issues Harrigan highlighted, as negotiations are ongoing.
"We have to bargain in good faith," she told reporters. "I know that typically each side starts with a position and they land somewhere that is agreeable to all sides."
The union has scheduled a meeting for next week during which delegates from each affected local are to be asked for direction on next steps. Harrigan said that could mean reconsidering the government's standing offer, proceeding with formal mediation or potentially a strike vote.
Before a strike vote, the union and the province would need to go through formal mediation. But Harrigan said he thinks that process would be short-lived, considering a "really intense" informal mediation process proved unsuccessful.
If a strike does occur, Albertans would still have access to emergency medical care, because of an essential services agreement signed by the two parties.
The agreement ensures some nurses remain on the job throughout a strike in order to ensure the safety of patients.
It also requires both parties to maintain open communication channels in the event of an emergency, so additional nursing staff can be called in.
Nurses aren't the only workers currently bargaining with the province.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and some 82,000 public servants and hospital support staff it represents are looking for a new contract.
That union is seeking raises of 26 per cent over three years and the Alberta government has countered with 7.5 per cent over four years.
LaGrange said Thursday the government is negotiating with every health-care union in the province.
She said in the event of widespread strikes, the government would have mitigation plans in place.
"But I really believe that the parties are at the table in good faith, bargaining in good faith, and I believe everybody wants to come to a good decision on it."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.
Danielle Smith facing leadership review Saturday to close out UCP convention
Some 6,000 United Conservative Party members are in Red Deer for the party's annual convention and will cast their votes today on what they think of Premier Danielle Smith's leadership so far.
Local sheriff asks FBI to investigate death of Black man found hanging in Alabama
The FBI is investigating the death of a Black man in Alabama, who was found hanging in an abandoned house, following a request from a local sheriff amid fears among community members who accuse local law enforcement of longstanding, unchecked misconduct.
India trashes Canada for linking home minister to Sikh activist plot
India officially protested on Saturday the Canadian government's allegation that the country's powerful home minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada, calling it 'absurd and baseless.'
The impact of Trump's lies in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio was once a manufacturing hub. Now, people know it for Trump's comments at September's presidential debate, when he famously - and falsely - told an audience of 67 million people that Haitians eat their pets, echoing claims that had circulated on social media.
Florida's convicted killer clown released from prison for the murder of her husband's then-wife
A woman who pleaded guilty to dressing as a clown and in 1990 murdering the wife of a man she later married was released from prison on Saturday.
Man says it's 'surreal' that officials euthanized pet squirrel Peanut
A man who took in an orphaned squirrel and made it a social media star vowed Saturday that New York state's decision to seize and euthanize the animal 'won't go unheard.'
Israeli forces capture senior Hezbollah operative in north Lebanon, Israeli military official says
Israeli naval forces captured a senior Hezbollah operative in north Lebanon, an Israeli military official said Saturday.
Americans in Canada cast ballot ahead of U.S. election
Stephen Winters says watching the U.S. election campaign from Canada as a dual citizen is like a parent watching their kid play sports.