Alberta nurses' union, province reach four-year deal, with pay increases of about 20 per cent

The union that represents more than 30,000 nurses in Alberta has signed a four-year contract with the province after months of bargaining and mediation.

The United Nurses of Alberta said Thursday the new deal will see the nurses it represents receive pay increases of about 20 per cent by 2028.

The union said the agreement also includes job security protection, as Alberta overhauls its health-care system, as well as assurances for staffing levels.

It said the agreement signifies the value of nurses and brings a "difficult" round of bargaining to an end.

Heather Smith, president of the United Nurses of Alberta, said the agreement shows nurses respect for the work they do. 

"What this contract is, is about hope and it does tick off elements of respect, elements that we believe will assist us in retaining and elements that will assist us in recruiting," she said in an interview with CBC News. 

Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner said the deal ensures the province is a competitive place for nurses to work.

He also said the agreement, as well as other provincial hiring programs, should reduce Alberta's dependency on private nurses and international recruiting.

The collective agreement covers registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses who work under Alberta Health Services, Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre and The Bethany Group in Camrose. 

Last fall, UNA members rejected a settlement recommended by a mediator. The parties went back to the table and came up with a deal presented to members last month. 

The union said 95.7 per cent of members who voted approved the deal. Voter turnout was 77.4 per cent. The deal covers four years from April 1, 2024, to April 1, 2028. 

Among the items in the agreement are hourly wage top-ups for nurses who are on-call or on charge duty. 

The province agreed to hire 1,000 new graduates from nursing programs across the country into full-time positions in each of the four years of the contract and offer them support in their first few months of work under the Graduate Nursing Transition Pilot Program. 

Smith said the new recruits would be paired with a clinical guide or experienced nurse who receives an extra $2 an hour for their mentoring work. 

She said the newcomers are not to be used for regular staffing.

"It's meant to be a learning experience for the new graduates versus a terrorizing jump in the deep end of the pool," Smith said. "I think that is very, very positive."

The government has also agreed to restore presumptive workers compensation coverage for nurses who experience trauma on the job. 

Edmonton-Glenora MLA Sarah Hoffman, the Opposition critic for health, said presumptive coverage for nurses was added when she was minister of health and were removed under the United Conservative Party.

She is happy to see the government plans to bring it back. 

Hoffman is pleased the two sides were able to reach a collective agreement without nurses having to strike. 

"I think reaching a collective agreement is a sign of respect today. I hope that carries on," she said. "The best way to retain your workforce is to sit down at the table, iron out these problems."