Quick Resolution to Alberta Healthcare Strike
A potentially disruptive strike involving approximately 16,000 licensed practical nurses and health-care aides in Alberta ended almost immediately after it began on Saturday morning. The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), which represents the healthcare workers, announced that a tentative agreement had been reached just 30 minutes after the strike commenced at 8:30 a.m.
Negotiations and Key Issues
The breakthrough came after intense overnight negotiations that involved multiple stakeholders. Premier Danielle Smith acknowledged the efforts during her radio call-in show, stating "There were a lot of people up late last night trying to bridge that gap."
According to reports, the two sides had been approximately nine percent apart on wages heading into the final negotiations. Beyond compensation, the union had expressed significant concerns about staffing levels at health facilities across the province.
Strike Authorization and Affected Services
The rapid resolution came despite overwhelming support for job action among union members. Earlier this month, AUPE members had voted 98 percent in favor of striking, demonstrating strong unity among healthcare workers.
The strike would have primarily affected Alberta Health Services facilities, though Covenant Health operations would have continued unaffected as negotiations with that agency remain ongoing.
A news conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday was expected to provide details about the tentative agreement. The deal now requires ratification by union members before becoming official.
