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“HSAA/NUPGE members are health care professionals who are there for Albertans in their most critical time. Never has that been made clearer than through COVID-19." — Leanne Alfaro, HSAA Vice President, and Chair of the bargaining committee
Edmonton (26 July 2022) — The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) announced that their members employed by Alberta Health Services voted 85% to accept a tentative agreement reached in late June. The new agreement covers the term April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2024.
Health care workers sacrificed during COVID
“HSAA/NUPGE members are health care professionals who are there for Albertans in their most critical times,” said Leanne Alfaro, HSAA Vice President, and the Chair of the bargaining committee. “Never has that been made clearer than through COVID-19. Despite the gains in this agreement, we feel this government and AHS still have a long way to go to fully express the appreciation that our members deserve for their sacrifices.”
HSAA/NUPGE feels that in spite of heavy government interference at the bargaining table, they were able to achieve a number of important gains for their members including increases of 1% retroactive to October 1, 2021, 1.25% on September 1, 2022 and 2% on April 1, 2023 for all members covered by this agreement. The employer had initially proposed wage rollbacks for almost half of the members.
The agreement also included important progress on benefits and other work/life balance provisions.
New contract negotiated but more needed to recognize value of health professionals
“Bargaining fair collective agreements is perhaps the most important thing we do on behalf of our membership,” add Mike Parker, HSAA President. “We are pleased that our members overwhelmingly supported the hard work of our committee. At the same time, work on our next round has already begun.”
This agreement covers approximately 20,000 of HSAA/NUPGE’s 29,000 members. HSAA/NUPGE represents nearly 29,000 front-line, expertly-trained, dedicated health care professionals who put patient care first.