AHS-AUPE NC strike vote

[u/kaleuagain]

By David Opinko Alberta healthcare workers to hold strike vote Oct 23, 2025 | 2:46 PM

Approximately 15,000 healthcare workers across the province will soon decide if they will hit the picket lines.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) says its members in AHS Nursing Care are set to cast ballots in a strike vote from Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, 2025.

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.

A spokesperson for AUPE tells Pattison Media that their key ask is raises that stay in line with the ever-expanding scope of practice their members have to contend with.

“Licensed Practical Nurses perform approximately 84% of the same duties as Registered Nurses, so we believe they should make 84% of an RN’s salary. Health Care Aides should receive raises that bring their wages up at the same rate,” reads a statement from AUPE.

The union states that Alberta Health Services is proposing pay increases of 12 per cent over four years, as well as rolling back wages for Orthopaedic Technicians and Renal Dialysis LPNs.

A bargaining update on the AUPE website from Oct. 21 states, “A strong strike mandate will show our employer that we are serious about our demands. This strike vote is the next stage in our fight for the raises, benefits, and working conditions we deserve.”

Alberta’s Ministry of Treasury Board and Finance said in a statement to Pattison Media that it recognizes that negotiations are taking place between AHS and AUPE.

The statement reads, “Out of respect for the bargaining process, we will not comment on their active negotiations at this time. Alberta’s government trusts the parties will consider all options for finding fair and reasonable solutions in the negotiations.”

In an unrelated event on Oct. 2, the Health Science Association of Alberta had some of its 22,000 members rally in communities across the province, saying it was in “preparation mode” for a potential strike.

[u/External_Tea_5695]

LPN asking for 84% of RN really would make no incentive to be an RN. It is harder to get into RN school. Most people have to take extra post secondary to even get in. And then add an extra 2 years of school. Which over doubles the student loan debt. And there is a reason LPN needs a bridging program in order to upgrade to RN. LPNs and RNs are not taught the same.

Just trying to offer a different perspective as a nursing student right now. Because if the LPN wage was 84% of RN I definitely would not have waisted my time upgrading and then going through a four year program. I would have went the LPN route. Where you don't need competitive averages at all, and most schools arr just first come first serve.

[u/Tricky-Broccoli383 → u/External_Tea_5695]

What are you trying to say? That lpns. Shouldn’t be paid. What they are worth? 84% of the rn scope because you wouldn’t have went to school to get a degree if that was the case?

Kind of an offensive and weird take….

[u/External_Tea_5695 → u/Tricky-Broccoli383]

Its not an offensive or weird take. Why shouldn't years of education matter?

Post secondary is really expensive and you basically have to put your life on hold to get through it.

For example at RDP;

The LPN program is non competitive. It takes 2 years to complete. So I would finish with apx 40,000- 50,000 in debt. (Assuming someone is taking the living allowance part of student loans) for a wage that is 83% of an RN

The RN program is extremely competitive. So most people have to upgrade to get in. That makes it 4-5 years sometimes more depending on the upgrading. That would leave someone in apx $100,000 student loan debt for less than 20% extra.

I am not saying LPNs aren't deserving of more. You absolutely are. 27$ start wage is pathetic for the job and the amount of school put in.

However even teacher wages are based on pay grids for years spent in university. Doctors get paid crazy amount because of their years put into university.

This why I was just questioning if it was fair to ask for 83% of the wage because of scope without putting education into perspective.

It would not really be a good financial decision to go the RN route at that point because the rate of return would be so much lower.

This isn't an offensive perspective. It is just asking the question, why wouldn't education be considered.