Thousands of unionized hospital workers across Alberta could be on the picket lines as early as Saturday morning, with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) and Alberta Health Services (AHS) racing against the clock to reach a deal.
AUPE, which represents more than 16,000 licensed practical nurses and health care aides, returned to the bargaining table Thursday after issuing a strike notice earlier this week.
The union and the province remain about nine per cent apart on wages, according to AUPE President Sandra Azocar. But wages aren’t the only sticking point—staffing shortages and unsafe working conditions are also central to the dispute.
Unlike Alberta’s teachers, AUPE members are bound by an essential services agreement, meaning hospitals cannot be left unstaffed. Instead, any strike action would involve rotating shifts on picket lines outside hospitals.
Even with only 20 to 30 percent of staff walking out at a time, experts warn the impact will be felt.
“This is a system that has been in crisis for a very long time,” said University of Calgary associate law professor Lorian Hardcastle. “It’s not just about being willing to keep bargaining, but bargaining in good faith in a way that moves toward a solution.”
The union and AHS have until 8:30 a.m. Saturday to reach an agreement. If talks fail, rotating job action could begin immediately.
Finance Minister Nate Horner has said AHS has contingency plans in place in the event of a strike. He said he would provide more details on which non-essential services would be affected by the strike in the coming days.
Hardcastle cautioned that mediation alone may not be enough to break the deadlock.
“The important thing to remember is that it isn’t just about money—it is about working conditions,” she said, urging the province to bring forward a new offer.
Azocar echoed that sentiment, stressing that unsafe conditions and chronic understaffing are jeopardizing patient care.
“We need to bring attention to the shortfalls happening within our healthcare system and the lack of action from government to improve the core problem, which is short staffing,” she said.
Hardcastle also encouraged Albertans who rely on hospital services to make their voices heard.
“Write to your representatives about how you want the government to handle this and what the impacts on you personally would be if there are staffing issues due to a strike,” she said.
The union has published a list of the locations of the first picket lines.
