Alberta nurses union plans meeting with little progress made in bargaining

Author of the article: Ashley Joannou, Kellen Taniguchi
Publishing date: Aug 13, 2021 •

Nurses demonstrate against government rollbacks and short staffing levels outside of the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton, on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021. PHOTO BY IAN KUCERAK /Postmedia
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The head of the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) says it’s “beyond insulting” that Alberta Health Services (AHS) is considering hiring contract nurses to fill staffing gaps, saying they’re being offered more money than current nurses facing pay cuts.

UNA president Heather Smith says some union members have been contacted by Greenstaff Medical Canada based in Toronto asking if they want to work on contract at AHS facilities

AHS says there have been preliminary discussions with the company but no deal has been signed.

Nurses and AHS have been in contract negotiations for more than a year. The government is asking nurses to take a three per cent pay cut arguing that the province needs to get its finances back on track.

The union says nurses recruited by Greenstaff have been offered $55 per hour for general acute care and up to $75 an hour for ICU and emergency, while current AHS nurses are paid between $36.86 and $48.37 per hour. They would also get shift differentials, weekend premiums, health-care benefits and a housing allowance, according to the union.

“It certainly brings into question the whole demand by the government to reduce nurses’ wages when Alberta Health Services seems to be willing to enter into contract to pay above, way above in some cases, the current wage rate,” Smith said Friday.

In a statement, AHS spokesman James Wood said Greenstaff Medical approached AHS.

“Our goal is to always cover shifts by using existing bargaining unit members, and to fill our vacancies in areas hard to recruit to by hiring qualified candidates rather than relying on agency nurses,” he said.

“While staffing agencies provide support in remote and rural locations at times, it is only as a last resort to prevent disruption of services due to vacancies or needs resulting from illness or vacation time.”

Wood did not confirm the wages contract nurses would be offered or say how many AHS would need.

Nurses, who held information pickets across the province this week, have maintained that they are exhausted and that hospitals are facing a staffing crunch.

Alberta has seen hospital bed closures across the province, but AHS says the vast majority of beds are open.

Smith said beds are remaining open because of “current staff working a herculean number of hours” and that’s not sustainable.

“Our members are exhausted and are calling out for resources, our government is saying you are worth less,” she said.

“And to hear that, in fact, our government and the employers are involved in negotiations to secure resources from other locations and pay them more than nurses are paid in Alberta — it’s beyond insulting.”

The UNA says it will hold a meeting later this month to discuss negotiation options.