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AHS, HSAA ratify collective agreement

Alberta Health Services and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta have ratified a new collective agreement.
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Alberta Health Services and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta have ratified a new collective agreement.

The four-year agreement expires on March 31, 2024, and sets out the terms and conditions for the 28,000 healthcare experts who work in 240 disciplines in communities, hospitals and clinics throughout the province.

In a statement, AHS said it was is pleased to reach “a positive outcome” based on the mediator’s recommendations, which reflects the economic environment as well as the critical role our healthcare workers have played and the challenges they have faced throughout the pandemic.

The new collective agreement includes pay increses of 4.25 per cent over four years, AHS said adding the two parties have agreed to work together in an effort to address recruitment and retention to remote and rural communities in Alberta.

“We are grateful to our AHS Board and to HSAA members for voting in favour of this positive outcome,” said Mauro Chies, interim AHS president and CEO.

“This would not have been possible without the dedication of the negotiation teams who have worked tirelessly over the past several months to reach an agreement. We extend our thanks to HSAA staff and the healthcare teams they work with for their exceptional work and dedication to serving Albertans.”

HSAA members eployed by AHS voted 85 per cent to accept the tentative agreement reached in late June.

“HSAA members are health care professionals who are there for Albertans in their most critical times,” said vice-president Leanne Alfaro, who was also the Chair of the bargaining committee.

“Never has that been made clearer than through COVID-19. Despite the gains in this agreement, we feel this government and AHS still have a long way to go to fully express the appreciation that our members deserve for their sacrifices.”

HSAA said it feels that, in spite of heavy government interference at the bargaining table, they were able to achieve a number of important gains for their members including increases of 1 per cent retroactive to Oct. 1, 2021, 1.25 per cent on Sept. 1, 2022 and 2 per cent on April 1, 2023 for all members covered by this agreement. The Employer had initially proposed wage rollbacks for almost half of the members.

Jason Nixon, president of Alberta’s treasury board and minister of finance, applauded the two sides for securing a new agreement.

“HSAA members – which include respiratory therapists, lab workers, paramedics, mental health professionals and others – continue to play important roles in the health care system and in the lives of Albertans,” said Nixon.

“This new collective bargaining agreement provides fair compensation to these skilled and dedicated medical professionals and ensures long-term stability in our health care system.”



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