Health Sciences Association of Alberta Approves New Wage Agreement

About 22,000 members of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta have voted in favor of a new collective agreement, which includes a 12 percent wage increase over four years. This agreement covers a wide range of health professionals, including paramedics, laboratory technologists, addiction counsellors, pharmacists, and occupational therapists.

The union announced that certain categories of workers will also receive additional one-time pay increases. In a statement, the association expressed gratitude to its members for their engagement during the negotiation process. “This has been a difficult round of bargaining, and we thank all of you who took the time to participate in town halls, learn about the agreement and vote,” the association said.

Finance Minister Nate Horner commented that the new deal will assist in attracting healthcare workers to Alberta. The president of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, Mike Parker, expressed relief at reaching an agreement after a prolonged negotiation period. “This agreement is finally a step forward for our dedicated health professionals, who’ve been working long hours under incredible pressure to get to this point,” Parker stated. He noted that members had been without a contract for over 20 months.

Despite the positive outcome, the mediator-recommended offer has prompted criticism on social media. Some users expressed frustration with the union for accepting what they perceive as a deal that has not significantly improved their situation. One Reddit user remarked, “Membership pays them $32 million a year just for them to unanimously endorse a deal that’s been on the table from the start. Unreal!”

Concerns were also raised regarding the fairness of wage increases across different professions. A user commented, “I will now make the same wage as an RN with a bachelor’s degree. I require a master’s degree from an extremely competitive and expensive grad school program to do my job. I am disappointed, even if I understand what happened.”

In response to the discontent, Parker acknowledged that while the collective agreement is not perfect, it represents the best outcome achievable under the circumstances. “While there are some outspoken, there is also a super majority of members who accepted this deal. So let’s stay focused on that,” he added.

The agreement includes a letter of understanding from the province, allowing the union to address specific grievances from its members. Although Parker expressed his reservations about certain provisions, he remains optimistic about the potential benefits of the new contract for healthcare professionals in Alberta.