Latest news with #HealthSciencesAssociationofAlberta
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Union representing 22,000 Alberta health professionals reaches tentative agreement
The president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta says he is reluctantly recommending union members ratify a tentative deal that will grant workers at least a 12 per cent wage increase in four years. "Did we get everything we were looking for? No," said HSAA president Mike Parker in an interview on Friday. "The people who need to make that decision on next steps are the members of HSAA who have to work under this agreement." Parker says the proposal is the best deal union leaders think members can get out of the employers. Representatives from the union and provincial health employers, represented by Alberta Health Services, struck a compromise on Thursday. An HSAA news release says it would give 22,000 members in 160 professions three per cent wage increases each year for four years, from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2028. HSAA has another 8,000 members who are not included in the deal. About a fifth of 22,000 HSAA workers, who are among the lowest paid in the union, would also get a boost to bring their salaries closer to those of colleagues in other provinces, Parker said. Specific professionals, including primary care paramedics, emergency communication officers, advanced care paramedics, psychologists and perfusionists would also receive extra wage boosts. The news release said the arrangement would include better health benefits for workers, job-protected leave for education upgrades, and better on-call and preceptor pay, among other perks. Other affected workers include physiotherapists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, medical imaging technologists, and many others employed by AHS, four other new provincial health agencies, Lamont health care centre and Camrose's Bethany Nursing Home. Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner said in a statement Thursday he was pleased the parties had reached a tentative pact after 16 months with no contract. "The partnership between the two parties is a testament to the importance of these health-care professionals and the services they provide to Albertans, and our health system," Horner said. His press secretary was not able to provide the potential cost to the treasury, should workers vote to accept the deal. Professor: agreement could set tone for other unions Parker said by last weekend, negotiations had hit an impasse. "We contacted the highest levels of government and said, 'Look it. This is not good enough,' " he said. Parker said they came away with a letter of understanding that committed the parties to doing a detailed analysis of wages for different professionals across western Canada and Ontario. He said this leaves the door open to potential wage increases for some workers before the tentative agreement expires. Workers will have two weeks to vote on the agreement online, beginning on Aug. 28. Athabasca University human resources and labour relations Prof. Jason Foster said the pact could be a tough sell to some of the union members who wouldn't benefit from extra wage boosts. "They probably have a sense that their members aren't going to be particularly thrilled with it," Foster said of HSAA leaders. Member expectations were high, said Foster, after the United Nurses of Alberta inked a spring deal that gives members about a 20 per cent wage hike over four years. The nurses' agreement came after they rejected an earlier recommendation from a mediator in October 2024. Unionized Alberta teachers also rejected a mediator's settlement proposal in May. "I don't think this is over yet," Foster said of HSAA's tentative agreement. If HSAA members vote to accept the offer, the agreement could set a precedent for other provincial public-sector unions also trying to negotiate new contracts. Some post-secondary employees have also settled for 12 per cent raises over four years, he said. The Alberta Teachers' Association's 51,000 members are in a position to strike with 72 hours notice. Unionized Alberta government workers are in mediation. An Aug. 8 update on the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) website says if this round of negotiations is unsuccessful, they will serve strike notice on or before Sept. 6 and walk off the job 72 hours later. "They have been the most willing and most vocal about their willingness to go on strike," said Foster, who added that the union has spent the summer preparing members for a possible strike. AUPE health-care workers have also been without a contract since April 2024 and have asked for the appointment of a mediator.
Calgary Herald
4 days ago
- Health
- Calgary Herald
HSAA and Alberta government reach tentative new labour deal
Article content The union representing more than 22,000 health professionals has reached a new labour deal after close to a year-and-a-half of bargaining. Article content The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) announced the tentative agreement late Thursday afternoon. Article content Article content The union says it includes improvements to wages and working conditions for its members who include paramedics, diagnostic imaging specialists, mental health and addiction counsellors, social workers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and dietitians, among other professions. Article content Article content The HSAA says members employed by Alberta Health Services, Acute Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, Lamont Health Care Centre, and Bethany Nursing Home of Camrose will vote on the agreement from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10. Article content Article content 'Our members are there for Albertans from the first call for help to diagnosis, treatment and recovery. They work short-staffed under extreme pressures, and they deserve recognition for the essential care they provide each and every day,' HSAA president Mike Parker said in a news release. Article content 'While this agreement doesn't include everything we wanted, it does reflect some of the priorities our members have been seeking, including higher wages and improved benefits.' The union says the tentative deal includes a 12 per cent base wage increase that encompasses three per cent retroactive raises for 2024 and 2025 as well as further three per cent raises in 2026 and 2027. Article content Article content It adds that approximately 19 per cent of members will see immediate market salary adjustments including a just over eight per cent raise for primary care paramedics and emergency communication officers; a four per cent increase for advanced-care paramedics, public education officers, and clinical supervisors; and six per cent raise for psychologists. Article content The HSAA also cited what it described as 'meaningful increases' to on-call premiums, preceptor pay, long-service pay, travel and meal expenses, and professional fee reimbursement as well as improved benefits and rules around leaves of absences. Article content The tentative deal also includes a $54-million investment by the province into the Rural Capacity Investment Fund to increase retention and recruitment of professionals. Article content In 2022, HSAA members voted to ratify a labour deal that included a 4.25 per cent pay increase. That deal ran between April 1, 2020 and March 31 of last year.
Edmonton Journal
4 days ago
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
HSAA and Alberta government reach tentative new labour deal
Article content The union representing more than 22,000 health professionals has reached a new labour deal after close to a year-and-a-half of bargaining. Article content The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) announced the tentative agreement late Thursday afternoon. Article content Article content The union says it includes improvements to wages and working conditions for its members who include paramedics, diagnostic imaging specialists, mental health and addiction counsellors, social workers, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and dietitians, among other professions. Article content Article content The HSAA says members employed by Alberta Health Services, Acute Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, Lamont Health Care Centre, and Bethany Nursing Home of Camrose will vote on the agreement from Aug. 28 to Sept. 10. Article content Article content 'Our members are there for Albertans from the first call for help to diagnosis, treatment and recovery. They work short-staffed under extreme pressures, and they deserve recognition for the essential care they provide each and every day,' HSAA president Mike Parker said in a news release. Article content 'While this agreement doesn't include everything we wanted, it does reflect some of the priorities our members have been seeking, including higher wages and improved benefits.' Article content The union says the tentative deal includes a 12 per cent base wage increase that encompasses three per cent retroactive raises for 2024 and 2025 as well as further three per cent raises in 2026 and 2027. Article content Article content It adds that approximately 19 per cent of members will see immediate market salary adjustments including a just over eight per cent raise for primary care paramedics and emergency communication officers; a four per cent increase for advanced-care paramedics, public education officers, and clinical supervisors; and six per cent raise for psychologists. Article content The HSAA also cited what it described as 'meaningful increases' to on-call premiums, preceptor pay, long-service pay, travel and meal expenses, and professional fee reimbursement as well as improved benefits and rules around leaves of absences. Article content The tentative deal also includes a $54-million investment by the province into the Rural Capacity Investment Fund to increase retention and recruitment of professionals. Article content In 2022, HSAA members voted to ratify a labour deal that included a 4.25 per cent pay increase. That deal ran between April 1, 2020 and March 31 of last year.
Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Health-care unions calling for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines
EDMONTON - Two of Alberta's health-care workers' unions are calling on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse its policy forcing many — including front-line medical staff — to pay for a COVID-19 vaccination. Smith has said the aim of the new policy, announced last week, is to prevent wastage after some $135 million was spent on unused doses. Smith said her government is focused on protecting those who need it the most by giving them the COVID-19 shot for free. That includes those with compromised immune systems, those on social programs and seniors in a congregate setting. However, most Albertans, including health-care workers who don't fall into a high-risk category, and seniors who live independently, will have to pay out of pocket. 'We believe in vaccine choice, but we don't pay for everything,' the premier said last week. United Nurses of Alberta president Heather Smith called it a dangerous and outrageous decision, and warned it will drive even more health-care workers from the province. 'The government's claim that this is being done to save money and recover costs makes no sense from a moral or logical perspective,' Smith said in a statement. She added it will put thousands of Albertans seeking health care at risk when they are most vulnerable, along with endangering thousands of their caregivers. 'It is absolutely irresponsible to force health-care workers in both public and private workplaces to place orders in August and pay to receive a vaccine that is an essential component of workplace health and safety,' said Smith, whose union represents more than 35,000 nurses and allied workers. The province's policy shift comes after the federal government put provinces in charge of buying COVID-19 shots this year. The nurses union was joined by the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, representing 30,000 health-care workers, in calling on the government to continue providing free COVID-19 vaccines this fall. 'That is how we protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep our health system strong,' said union vice-president Leanne Alfaro. Alfaro said COVID-19 continues to put vulnerable Albertans at risk and vaccines remain the most effective tool for protecting individuals and the broader health system, including staff. 'They should not be expected to put themselves in harm's way without basic protection,' she said in a statement. Smith's United Conservative Party government has said it hasn't been determined how much Albertans would pay, but it has estimated the cost to procure each shot is $110. Routine influenza vaccines will continue to be publicly covered. Local pharmacies will no longer be given a supply of COVID-19 shots, which will only be available through public health clinics through a phased delivery in the fall. The government has said the new approach will make sure it's better able to determine what it needs to order in coming years. It has ordered just under 500,000 of the vaccines for the fall, or about one-third of what was ordered last season, at an estimated cost of $49 million. Just under 14 per cent of Alberta's 4.8 million residents were vaccinated for the virus last season. Public health-care experts say the province's new COVID-19 policy will create more barriers to getting vaccinated and also lead to higher costs as more people develop severe complications. Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization recommends that all adults 65 years of age or older and health-care workers get the shot. Opposition NDP health critic Sarah Hoffman said Monday that Primary and Preventative Health Minister Adriana Lagrange is responsible for weakening the province's public vaccine campaign in the first place, and her government's goal is to appease anti-vaccination fringe groups. 'This reduced uptake and wastage was a direct result of undermining (LaGrange's) own department's efforts to promote vaccines,' said Hoffman. She said Smith is saddling Albertans with extra fees and inching the province closer to American-style health care. Dr. Luanne Metz said she and other NDP MLAs are hearing from Albertans who are concerned it will force seniors on limited incomes to pay more, which will result in some skipping their medications. 'They're really putting up more and more barriers for people and for health-care workers to be able to get the vaccines, which means that we will have more disease, more sick people, (and) more people dying,' Metz said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Edmonton Journal
16-06-2025
- Health
- Edmonton Journal
Health-care union calls for Alberta government to halt plan to limit free vaccines
Article content EDMONTON — A union representing 30,000 health-care workers in Alberta is calling on Premier Danielle Smith's government to reverse course and provide free COVID-19 vaccines to all front-line workers and any other Albertan who wants the shot. The Health Sciences Association of Alberta says that is the best way to protect patients, reduce hospitalizations, and keep the health-care system strong.
