MEDIA RELEASE: Members of United Nurses of Alberta have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement with Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health and two smaller employers: una.ca/1325/una-membe… #abhealth #ableg #canlab
“The Bargaining Committee felt strongly the Mediator’s recommendation issued on December 21 was a fair deal that will benefit our members and also fair to the people of Alberta,” said UNA President Heather Smith.
“I am gratified that the members agreed with the bargaining committee’s recommendation and voted by 87 per cent to ratify this agreement," UNA's Smith said.
The ratification by the members of 130 UNA locals, whose members make up the bulk of the union’s more than 30,000 RNs and RPNs, brings to an end one of the most prolonged and arduous negotiations in the provincial nursing union’s 44-year history.
The new agreement, which runs from April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2024, includes:
- 4.25% pay increases over the life of the agreement. Alberta nurses will remain the highest paid in Canada.
- Conversion of current semi-annual lump-sum payments to the wage grid.
- 4.25% pay increases over the life of the agreement. Alberta nurses will remain the highest paid in Canada.
- Conversion of current semi-annual lump-sum payments to the wage grid.
The new agreement includes:
- A one-time lump sum payment of 1 per cent for 2021 in recognition of nurses’ contributions during the pandemic.
- Enhanced psychological and mental health supports.
- Creation of a union-employer provincial workload advisory committee.
- A one-time lump sum payment of 1 per cent for 2021 in recognition of nurses’ contributions during the pandemic.
- Enhanced psychological and mental health supports.
- Creation of a union-employer provincial workload advisory committee.
The new agreement includes:
- Implementation of a Rural Capacity Investment Fund, which will allocate $5 million a year to recruitment and retention strategies in rural and remote areas of the province, and $2.5 million a year for relocation assistance.
- Implementation of a Rural Capacity Investment Fund, which will allocate $5 million a year to recruitment and retention strategies in rural and remote areas of the province, and $2.5 million a year for relocation assistance.
“Alberta Health Services’ willingness to move away from its initial demands for wage cuts and to drop its efforts to impose more than 200 rollbacks made this agreement possible,” said UNA Labour Relations Director David Harrigan. #abhealth #ableg
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