The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has announced a strike notice for its AHS Nursing Care unit. (Photo: AUPE)

By David Opinko

update: comments from government

AUPE nurses serve strike notice

Nov 19, 2025 | 9:30 AM

More than 16,000 nursing care workers in Alberta employed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) are expected to go on strike this weekend.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) issued a 72-hour strike notice on Wednesday morning, Nov. 19, 2025.

This means that, if a deal with the Alberta Government cannot be reached before then, a strike could begin as early as 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The AHS Nursing Care sector includes Licensed Practical Nurses, Health Care Aides, Orthopaedic Technicians, and Surgical Processors in hospitals and health care centres across Alberta.

AUPE says mediated talks with the government’s bargaining team were unsuccessful. The two sides did not come to a tentative agreement, nor did the mediator make any recommendations.

Dec. 10

RDP holds pinning ceremony for graduating nursing students

30m ago

get in the car!

Maps for 2025 Red Deer Christmas Lights tour

2h ago

predictable taxation

Chamber calls Red Deer County's draft budget 'disciplined'

3h ago

The union says in a statement that the employer’s offer was insufficient, especially for wages.

“Your team’s wage proposal would make Alberta the best province in Canada to be a Licensed Practical Nurse and Health Care Aide. And not just in 2025, but through to 2027 as well, just like Registered Nurses,” reads a statement from AUPE.

AUPE adds that Licensed Practical Nurses have about 84 per cent of the same duties as Registered Nurses, yet LPNs make far less than 84 per cent of the salary of an RN. They believe that their proposal would have helped to close that gap.

According to AUPE, they also remain far apart on other issues:

• Professional development days.
• Hours of work improvements.
• Limits on banked overtime hours.
• Outsourcing shifts vs. offering them to AUPE nurses first.
• On-call rates.
• Improved mileage for those who are required to provide their vehicle for employer business, including free on-site parking for those employees.
• Improved benefits, including coverage for all prescriptions written by a physician.
• Professional fees and insurance.

Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner, however, believes that his offer to AUPE was not only “fair and reasonable,” but that it is “highly competitive with other provinces across the country.

“We are disappointed to hear the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has provided official notice of their intent to strike on Saturday morning,” says Horner. “The government has been clear from the beginning – we hope the AUPE and Alberta Health Services (AHS) reach a negotiated settlement.”

He assured Albertans that if a strike were to happen, contingency plans are in place.

Horner explains that it would be an “essential services strike,” meaning that 80 per cent of LPNs and healthcare aides would continue to provide essential care. Only 20 per cent of the impacted employees would be allowed to strike and withdraw non-essential services.

“AHS will be communicating further on which non-essential services will be impacted by the strike in the coming days,” Horner adds.

The finance minister says that he is hopeful that the labour situation can be resolved soon, and he encourages all parties to come back to the table.

AUPE has also committed to resuming negotiations, and they hope that the strike notice will allow them to get an improved mandate.