AHS NC: The ALRB made a decision – our strike vote is as important as ever

A strong strike mandate is the next step in winning our demands at the bargaining table

Our strike vote is proceeding as planned, and the Alberta Labour Relations Board confirmed it.

The Alberta Labour Relations Board has laid out the next steps in bargaining. Your negotiating team is pleased with the Board’s direction and is ready to move forward.

The Board ruled that your team and the Employer must hold more bargaining meetings with the assistance of our mediator. 

Your team has provided a counteroffer to the Employer’s Oct. 10 wage proposal. Our counteroffer includes significant wage increases for Health Care Aides, Licensed Practical Nurses, and all our classifications.

The Employer and the Union have been instructed to attend and engage in at least four days of mediated meetings, which have been scheduled for Nov. 6, 7, 8, and 9.

We are still holding our strike vote. If you deliver a strong strike mandate, the Board’s decision states we cannot take job action until November 17, 2025, at the earliest.

Why we should vote YES to a strike

The Alberta government’s use of the notwithstanding clause to end the teacher’s strike and impose a new collective agreement has set a new, and dangerous, precedent. 

We must resist this government’s aggressive misuse of power. This overreach makes it more important than ever to deliver a strong strike mandate.

The government has faced widespread condemnation over its use of the notwithstanding clause, and the public backlash has them on the defensive. We must seize this opportunity to increase our pressure on AHS and the government. We must fight for the fair contract we deserve.

A strong strike mandate will make our employer take our demands more seriously—and possibly change course at the bargaining table. We must show them we are not afraid to strike and are not intimidated by the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause.

Vote details

Voting began at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 30, and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, November 3.

Members are encouraged to vote online. To vote online, please log in to your MyAUPE account during the voting period.

You must create a MyAUPE account if you do not have one already.

Your MyAUPE account is also your ticket to receive strike pay quickly. All members are strongly encouraged to create an account and use it to participate in the strike vote.

Members can also vote at Headquarters in Edmonton or any one of AUPE’s regional offices from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on October 30 and November 1, 2, and 3 (including on the weekend).

Visit www.aupe.org/ahsnursingcarestrikevote for more information.

Please contact a member of your negotiating team if you have questions.

AHS NURSING CARE NEGOTIATING TEAM

Local 041

Christine Vavrik
rvavrik@shaw.ca    

Catherine Sivasankar (alt)
accb@shaw.ca

Local 043

Sandy Miller
smiller98@msn.com      

Jennifer Power (alt)
cherrigarcia24@yahoo.ca 

Local 044 

Marg Miller
marg.miller@hotmail.ca    

Jesse Philp (alt)
jreimerlpn@gmail.com

Local 045

Nancy Burton
ndburton@hotmail.com

Angela Smyth (alt)
angelscare.as@gmail.com

Local 046

Marty Roy
bargaininglocal46@gmail.com

Heather Stewart (alt)
stewart.h@live.ca

AUPE RESOURCE STAFF

Kate Robinson, Lead Negotiator
k.robinson@aupe.org

Chris Dickson, Negotiator
c.dickson@aupe.org