By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

alberta health services responds

Health Sciences Association of Alberta says AHS’ monetary proposal is “insulting”

Oct 11, 2024 | 3:27 PM

The Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA) claims collective bargaining with Alberta Health Services (AHS) has broken down over the employer’s refusal to negotiate wages.

In a statement Friday, the HSAA says members came to the table this week ready to negotiate a fair deal for professionals who are essential to providing health care.

“They were met by an employer unwilling even to discuss their insulting monetary proposal,” said Mike Parker, HSAA president. “We would be willing to sit down and bargain our proposals with them if they treated us fairly and like all other health care unions.”

Bargaining began in March, and the HSAA says AHS has targeted 21 per cent, or 4,466, of its members with a proposed lump sum payment, instead of applying proposed percentages to the base wage rate.

According to the HSAA, this would effectively freeze the wages of social workers, speech language pathologists, respiratory therapists, pharmacy techs, and health information management professionals.

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AHS’s opening monetary proposal for all HSAA members is 7.5 per cent over four years (2 per cent in year one, 2.0 per cent in year two, 1.75 per cent in year three, and 1.75 per cent in year four).

“We are in a health care staffing crisis, and this government who sets the mandate for public sector bargaining, is telling health care professionals in Alberta that they do not respect them and the services they provide for Albertans,” continued Parker.

“Wages below inflation or lump sums will only make the staffing crisis worse by pushing health care workers out of the province and making Alberta even more unattractive to new workers.”

Parker calls AHS’ proposal divisive, adding that the association, “will not be backing down.”

Alberta Health Services provided a statement to rdnewsNOW on Friday, in response to the HSAA.

“AHS is committed to the bargaining process. While the outcome of bargaining is not yet determined, any speculation at this stage would be premature. We look forward to continuing our discussions with HSAA,” the health authority states.

Alberta’s Ministry of Health declined to comment on this story at this time.

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