Alberta Nursing Care Workers Reach Tentative Deal, Averting Strike

Last-Minute Agreement Averts Widespread Strike

Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), representing approximately 16,000 nursing care workers, reached a tentative four-year agreement on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The deal was finalized just minutes before a province-wide strike was set to commence at 8:30 a.m., preventing significant disruption to healthcare services across Alberta.

The agreement follows 20 months of intense negotiations and comes after AUPE members, including Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Health Care Aides (HCAs), had voted 98% in favour of strike action. Negotiations extended through Friday night, concluding in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Key Provisions of the Tentative Deal

The proposed four-year contract includes a comprehensive package aimed at improving compensation and working conditions for nursing care workers:

• A 12% general wage increase spread over the four-year term of the agreement.
• Significant market adjustments, with Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) receiving a 10% market adjustment and Health Care Aides (HCAs) receiving a 4% market adjustment. These adjustments are notably retroactive to April 1, 2024.
• The wage grid for Health Care Aides will be restructured, removing the bottom two steps to allow employees to advance more quickly on the pay scale, also effective April 1, 2024.

According to AUPE, these adjustments will result in a total wage hike of up to 23.81% for LPNs and up to 17.05% for HCAs. The retroactivity of market adjustments has been highlighted as a significant achievement by the union.

Reactions and Ratification Process

Sandra Azocar, President of AUPE, described the negotiations as 'grueling' but stated that the deal 'sets a new standard in health care and more broadly in the labour movement,' addressing the priorities of its members. Kate Robinson, AUPE's lead negotiator, emphasized the importance of the retroactive market adjustments, which were not offered in previous negotiation rounds.

Nate Horner, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, expressed the provincial government's encouragement regarding the agreement. He acknowledged the hard work of both parties and stated that the settlement reflects strong wage offers designed to maintain Alberta's competitiveness in healthcare compensation. Premier Danielle Smith also expressed her satisfaction, noting that AHS and AUPE were not 'that far apart' in their positions.

The tentative agreement now awaits ratification by AUPE members. A town hall meeting is scheduled for November 25, 2025, where members will review the terms of the deal, with a ratification vote expected to take place within the next two weeks.