CALGARY – Alberta’s health superboard is asking its directors to approve a mediator’s suggestions for a new three-year contract for the province’s 24,000 registered nurses.
After months of negotiations between the two sides, mediator Tom Hughes has provided the United Nurses of Alberta with formal recommendations for a new labour deal.
The report calls for a zero increase to wages in the first two years of the contract and a four per cent increase in year three. It also recommends a two per cent productivity increase allocation to wage rates in year two that will come as a result of savings from the conversion of casual or overtime hours into regular positions.
AHS chairman declined to comment on the negotiations Tuesday. "We have just received the report as well and we’ll be looking at it," he said.
About 600 nurses met today to reveiw the recommendations and decide whether to take them to a general membership ratification vote. Union president Heather Smith could not immediately be reached.
The UNA had initially asked for a two-year contract with four per cent wage increases each year, while it said AHS was proposing "historic rollbacks" never seen before in salaries, benefits and other areas.
Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky said he hasn’t seen the specifics of the offer, but hopes an agreement is reached that is beneficial to both sides. " I’m hoping the negotiations come out with something that is livable and workable for all, not just the AHS but also for the nurses. But it’s not something I’m involved with," he told reporters Tuesday.
The nurses and the AHS have until June 30 to accept or reject the recommendations. Informal negotiations began April 6 after the nurses’ contract expired March 31.
Comments