Health-care workers, union rally outside Peter Lougheed Centre

The province is in two separate labour disputes right now—with teachers and some health-care workers.

Rally cheers filled the air outside the Peter Lougheed Centre emergency department as health-care workers and union members drew attention to their plight—the battle for a new collective agreement with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

“Our membership is very strong, very focused on getting a fair contract that respects the wages that our members need to see to actually live in this province and work in this province,” said Bonnie Gostola with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

AUPE represents some 15,000 Calgary support and nursing-care workers employed by AHS who are fighting for improved wages and benefits, along with safe staffing levels and manageable workloads.

Formal mediation for support workers started Tuesday.

Nursing care is still bargaining with the employer, and the union has applied for formal mediation, according to an AUPE spokesperson.

“Alberta’s government values the work health-care staff do every day to support patients and families. We remain committed to a fair bargaining process and to working constructively with all parties at the table,” a statement from the finance minister’s office reads.

“Out of respect for the bargaining process, Alberta’s government will not be providing further comment at this time.”