(rdnewsNOW/ Ian Gustafson)

By Ian Gustafson

continuing to Stand up

Red Deer Regional Hospital staff hold rally in hopes of reaching new deal with AHS

Jul 10, 2025 | 3:44 PM

Health care workers of the Red Deer Regional Hospital held a rally Thursday outside the facility.

Alberta Union of Provincial Employee (AUPE) members working in nursing care and general support services held the rally outside the hospital because they want to reach a new deal on a collective bargaining agreement with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

AUPE vice-president Darren Graham said the prior agreement expired in March 2024 and they’ve been working towards a new deal ever since, but to no avail.

“We’ve been asking to have AHS come back to the table because we were continuing to work on that essential services agreement. We actually made some headway yesterday,” he said. “Hopefully this rally helped prompt that headway but basically we’re now at that position where our bargaining committees are looking through those essential services agreements.”

An ‘essential services agreement’ is to ensure those services continue during a strike.

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After such an agreement is completed, however, both sides must go to mediation and a strike vote among the members would follow. Graham said they hope it doesn’t have to come to that.

They’re rallying for better working conditions, improved wages, and the quality of care. On Wednesday, Graham said they had a breakthrough with AHS who indicated they want to return to the bargaining table.

Although he can’t say for sure, Graham believes it could be the rally on Thursday that made AHS return.

“We’re hopeful that we can come to a negotiated agreement at the bargaining table; however, as shown here today with our members coming out in the rain to show their displeasure, they will continue to do that until we get fair negotiations happening,” Graham added.

“For a year-and-a-half, the employer hasn’t come off their opening 7.5 per cent over four years, which doesn’t come close to matching inflation rates.”

AUPE members at the Red Deer Regional Hospital are made up of roughly 1,500 people in general support services and approximately 700 health care aides and nurses. There are 136 classifications under general support.

Graham explained it’s getting harder and harder for many employees to be able to pay rent. Some are working multiple jobs and some have lost housing because they couldn’t afford it anymore.

“The rally today is focused around negotiations, making sure the employer is coming to the table with fair, respectful proposals. We’ve revised our proposals and we’ve still yet to get a response from AHS on those,” he added.

“These workers are standing up for themselves and that’s really what it’s all about.”

In an emailed statement from Alberta Health Services, they said they’re aware of the rally.

“There has been no impact to patient care. We recognize our staff’s right to participate in legal job action during non-working hours,” they added.