HSAA union workers hold rally outside Red Deer Regional Hospital

“We need the government to come back with an offer that shows they’re sincere about making healthcare in Alberta better. That means investing in our frontline staff so they can deliver the care the public needs.”

Rallies across the province were also held in Edmonton, Calgary, Stony Plain, St. Albert, Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, and Medicine Hat.

Back on Sept. 10, the HSAA announced its members had voted to reject the provincial government’s latest offer. A total of 78 per cent of eligible members and 59.37 per cent voted against the tentative deal.

In total, there are 30,000 members represented by the HSAA, and of those, 22,000 rejected the offer. They’ve been working under an existing contract that ended in March 2024.

In Red Deer, there are 920 employees under the HSAA and 2,379 in the central zone.

(rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

He explained that the healthcare system is in crisis and that the only way to resolve it is by providing support and resources to staff.

“If we can get the government to come back to recognize this is a real issue, and support our members, then things will go forward as needed,” he said. “This union is willing to take every tool necessary to make sure we can get our members supported, whether that’s negotiating or preparing for job action like we are today.”

Healthcare professionals in the HSAA union include emergency response teams, respiratory therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pathologists, and many more. They work in every facet that provides healthcare to Albertans, including in hospitals, emergency response, community health centres, home care, and long-term care.

HSAA central district board member Darlene Fetaz said HSAA workers are the backbone of healthcare.

“We keep it running,” she said. “So, if we end up in job action, if the employer and the government don’t come back and negotiate with us, and it leads to job action, it will literally shut down Alberta’s healthcare system.”

They first began negotiating approximately 16 months ago, and the most recent offer that was rejected by the membership was because they felt it didn’t support staff well enough, which in turn would negatively impact Albertans.

They hope the government will return to the bargaining table sooner rather than later.

“Albertans deserve good care; they deserve a healthcare team that’s well-resourced and well supported. We’re asking for them to recruit and retain professionals, so we’re not suffering from high workloads and burnout,” she said. “This is not unique to Alberta; this is global. We need to be competitive to recruit and keep staff in Alberta.”

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HSAA workers held a rally on Thursday outside the Red Deer Regional Hospital. They joined thousands others healthcare workers across the province in the “Day of Unity.”

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McMillan added that more than 500,000 Albertans are waiting for care, and of that, 80,000 are waiting for surgeries.

Staffing levels are not where they should be, he said, but regardless, current staff continue to deliver high-quality care. However, when burnout happens, staff can make mistakes.

“The main message through this rally is that Albertans deserve expert medical care… We need investment from the people who provide that care, and the government is well aware of this,” he said. “They know we’re in crisis, we’ve been telling them for quite a while. It’s not just EMS, it’s not just the emergency department, it’s every aspect, and it’s underfunded.”

In a statement from the Minister of Treasury Board and Finance, Nate Horner’s office, they said they are aware of today’s HSAA rallies in several communities across Alberta.

“Alberta Health Services and the HSAA remain at the bargaining table. We are committed to reaching a fair and fiscally responsible agreement that supports health-care workers and protects taxpayers.”

by Ian Gustafson

HSAA union workers hold rally outside Red Deer Regional Hospital

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