Alberta Health Services (AHS) Nursing Care Essential Service Agreement (ESA) has been signed and approved by the ESA Commissioner as of July 30.
A formal mediation will begin in the coming months as they search for a mediator. However, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) are still demanding that AHS meet with them on Sept. 17 and 25 for more bargaining.
This came after AHS filed a bad-faith labour-board complaint against AUPE.
In a statement made on the AUPE website, they said that the reasoning for the complaint is due to talks of a potential strike and monetary subsidies. “The employer (AHS) appears to be upset that your negotiating team talked to you about the potential of taking legal strike actions. The AHS complaint to the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) also takes issue with AUPE’s monetary proposals, despite the union putting forward fair positions that are backed by economic and market-supported data.”
The AUPE responded to the claims by stating that AHS refused to provide context around their phrasing on “reasonable settlement zones” that would outline the proper monetary distribution for workers.
“It is our position that AHS proposals also don’t take appropriate account of the acute labour shortage in health care, the nature and importance of the work you do, the increase in the scope of practice and the corrosive effects inflation has had on your lives,” said AUPE in a statement made on July 23.
A hearing date with the Alberta Labour Relations Board has been set for Oct. 20 to 30 after a failed settlement hearing on July 16.
By implementing an Essential Services Agreement, the outlines of a potential strike allow for essential medical care to remain while still allowing employees their right to protest. They decide who will work during strikes and are considered necessary to protect the safety, life and public health of those in their chapter.
As AUPE and AHS head back to the bargaining table in the coming weeks, no strikes have been called, and nurses will continue to work at their local health clinic as they progress.
