Nurses, health-care aides represented by AUPE ratify new collective agreement

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on December 2, 2025.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

Roughly 16,000 nursing care workers represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees voted Friday to ratify a new agreement with Alberta Health Services.

The new collective agreement will expire March 31, 2028. A tentative agreement was reached Nov. 22, narrowly averting a strike that would have included licensed practical nurses and health-care aides.

“This was a long and frustrating process, but our members have officially raised the bar for collective agreements in this province,” said AUPE president Sandra Azocar.

A total of 71 per cent of union members participated in the vote. Members working for AHS voted 63.3 per cent in favour of the agreement, while members at Allen Grey Continuing Care voted 95 per cent in favour.

The new agreement will see LPNs and HCAs receive wage increases retroactive to April 2024, as well as increases to shift premiums.

The deal includes a 23.8 per cent total wage increase for LPNs and a 17 per cent total wage increase or health-care aides. The included market adjustments, which amount to 10 per cent for LPNs and 4 per cent for HCAs, will be retroactive to April 1, 2024.

Another highlight of the new collective agreement is increased funding to the Rural Capacity Investment Fund, which AUPE says will help recruit and retain staff in areas of the province that struggle with health-care workforce.

Funding for the program will jump from just above $4.3 million in 2024 to $12.6 million.

Members working at Lamont Health Care Centre conducted a separate ratification vote and did not ratify the agreement. They will return to the bargaining table.

“This collective agreement is a strong step towards the wages and working conditions our members deserve. We will be in a strong position when we begin bargaining again in 2028,” said Azocar.

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