Thousands of health care professionals rally across Alberta, potential strike looms

Health Science Association of Alberta workers held a rally to call for a better deal from the province on Thursday. The union is also considering job action.

Health care professionals represented by the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) are calling on the Alberta government for a better deal as thousands rally across the province.

The HSAA represents nearly 30,000 health care workers across more than 200 disciplines including paramedics, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, therapists and mental health counsellors.

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“Albertans deserve the expert medical care and the treatment delivered by a team of well supported and well resourced health care professionals in this province,” said HSAA president Mike Parker. “But right now, unsustainable workloads, constant short staffing, severe burnout of our members on the front lines are driving these critical professions out of health care and out of this province.”

In September, nearly 60 per cent of Alberta Health Services (AHS) employees represented by the HSAA voted down a tentative agreement with the province.

“The members have been crystal clear time and time again: this offer is not good enough, and if this government wants to avoid job action, they need to get back to the table with a better offer,” said Parker.

He said the health care system in Alberta is in crisis with more than half a million people on waitlists, 80,000 of which are waiting for surgeries.

The restructuring of AHS has also put additional stress on the system, said Parker, calling it a “road to nowhere.”

“We were barely handing on before all this … nobody knows who they work for anymore.”

The union is looking for more resources and additional members to be hired to keep up with demand.

A statement from the ministry of finance said the province is aware of the rallies.

“AHS and the HSAA remain at the bargaining table,” said the statement. “We are committed to reaching a fair and fiscally responsible agreement that supports health care workers and protects taxpayers.”

Despite the province being aware of the strain on the system, Parker said the government has yet to put a solution forward.

“They know exactly what the issues are. They know what the waitlists look like, they know what chronic overload on our staffing looks like, what burnout looks like … we don’t need to tell them anymore,” he said.

Parker added that the HSAA is taking legal steps in preparation of job action.

“I would suggest that next week might be an interesting time for all of us.”

If the HSAA were to strike, he said there could be delayed EMS response, therapies and surgeries.

“Health care will shut down because without HSAA members that are on the street right now, there is no health care in this province,” said Parker, adding that the door is still open to negotiate.

“This government has to do the right thing and bring us an offer that we need for our members.”

Before a job action takes place, the HSAA would need to put forward a strike vote to its members.

With teachers also preparing to strike next week as negotiations with the province reached a standstill, Parker said there’s a common denominator.

“It’s a similar deal and it’s a similar response,” he said.

Members rallied at hospitals and health centres in Edmonton, Calgary, Stony Plain, St. Albert, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Red Deer.