More than 16,000 LPNs and health care aides with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees have ratified a new collective agreement. (Photo: AUPE)

By David Opinko

Alberta LPNs & health care aides ratify new agreement

Dec 1, 2025 | 9:00 AM

A strike by more than 16,000 healthcare workers in Alberta has officially been averted.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has announced that its Nursing Care members have ratified a four-year collective agreement with Alberta Health Services, Allen Grey Continuing Care, and the newly restructured healthcare organizations in the province.

Approximately 71 per cent of eligible members cast ballots in the ratification vote. AUPE says 63.3 per cent of employees with AHS and the other organizations approved the new deal, while 95 per cent of those who work at Allen Grey also voted yes.

AUPE President Sandra Azocar says she is grateful to see the long and stressful period of labour negotiations come to an end.

“This was a long and frustrating process, but our members have officially raised the bar for collective agreements in this province,” says Azocar.

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She adds, “This collective agreement is a strong step towards the wages and working conditions our members deserve. We will be in a strong position when we begin bargaining again in 2028.”

Some of the highlights of the collective agreement include:

• Wage increases:
  • 23.81% total wage increases for Licensed Practical Nurses
  • 17.05% total wage increases for Health Care Aides
  • Retroactive wage payments to reflect these raises on hours worked since April 1, 2024
• Increases to shift premiums and rates:
  • Increase to Responsibility Premium from $1.25 to $3.50 / hour
  • Increase to Preceptor Pay from $0.65 to $2.00 / hour
  • Increase to the Regular On-Call rate from $3.30 to $7.00 / hour
  • Increase to the Named Holiday On-Call rate from $4.50 to $7.00 / hour
• Increased funding to the Rural Capacity Investment Fund, which will help recruit and retain staff in hard-to-recruit areas of the province:
  • April 1, 2024: $4.368 Million
  • April 1, 2025: $12.6 Million
  • April 1, 2026: $12.6 Million
  • April 1, 2027: $12.6 Million

    @lethbridgenewsnow Alberta nurses & health care aides ratify new collective agreement. Learn more at LethbridgeNewsNow.com #YQL #LNN #YYC #YEG #Alberta #AUPE #News #Healthcare ♬ original sound – Lethbridge News Now

Nate Horner, Finance Minister of Alberta, says he is pleased to see the ratification of the collective agreement and that nurses will not be striking.

“After months of negotiations, we appreciate the collective effort it has taken for AHS and AUPE to reach an agreement,” says Horner.

He adds that improving wages and benefits will help bring long-term stability to the healthcare system.

“We thank these workers for their skill, dedication, and the difference they make every day in Alberta’s health care system,” Horner states.

AUPE Nursing Care’s collective agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2024, and will expire on March 31, 2028.

Last week, the Health Sciences Association of Alberta also ratified its new collective agreement.

The union represents more than 22,000 specialized healthcare professionals, including diagnostic imaging technologists, mental health and addictions counsellors, radiation therapists and dosimetrists, social workers, paramedics, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, speech language pathologists, psychologists, dietitians, physiotherapists, and more than 200 others across Alberta.

READ MORE: Alberta paramedics, other health professionals vote to accept new contract