AUPE members in senior care push toward strike action as bargaining stalls
157 AUPE member groups are bargaining with continuing-care operators; one group with AgeCare could vote on strike in November.
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The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) says 157 member groups representing unionized continuing-care workers across Alberta are at risk of job action, with some groups approaching a strike vote as early as November.
Unlike last year's bargaining with Alberta Health Services—which involved 16,000 public-sector workers and ended in a last-minute deal—these negotiations affect roughly 21,000 continuing-care workers mostly employed by private and non-profit providers including CapitalCare, Chartwell, Sienna Seniors Living, Extendicare, VentaCare and AgeCare. Each employer negotiates a separate contract rather than a single provincial agreement.
AUPE president Sandra Azocar said the union is ready to escalate. "We are ready to take this fight to the street if necessary, and we're putting continuing care operators on notice that we're ready to fight back." One group bargaining with AgeCare is getting close to a strike vote, which could lead to a strike after a 72-hour cooling period.
Most negotiations began around 2024, though AUPE said it has been negotiating with AgeCare on the same deal since 2022. To date, just 15 per cent of negotiations have been resolved. The union says some employers have refused to offer wage increases, but Azocar emphasized the fight extends beyond pay. "Working conditions are care conditions. Full stop," she said.
Successful recent deals offer a template. A tentative agreement for general support workers with CapitalCare included a 12 per cent pay increase over four years, plus improvements to occupational health and safety, respectful workplace language, on-call pay, preceptor pay, vacation benefits and allowances for safe footwear. LPNs at Touchmark at Wedgewood secured a 10 per cent market adjustment for 2024 and 12 per cent over the following four years; health care aides got four per cent for 2024 plus 12 per cent over four years.
Azocar noted that some companies are recognizing the need to retain workers in a sector plagued by serious staffing shortages. "We have places like VentaCare, Touchmark, who have been able to mirror the AHS offer," she said.
How many AUPE-represented workers does each major continuing-care employer (CapitalCare, Chartwell, Sienna, Extendicare, VentaCare, AgeCare) currently employ?
What percentage of continuing-care facilities in Alberta employ AUPE members versus non-union staff?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
How many AUPE member groups are bargaining with continuing-care operators?
157 AUPE member groups representing unionized continuing-care workers across Alberta are at risk of job action.
How many continuing-care workers are affected by these negotiations?
Roughly 21,000 continuing-care workers, mostly employed by private and non-profit providers, are involved in separate contract negotiations with individual employers.
When could one group with AgeCare hold a strike vote?
One AUPE group bargaining with AgeCare could hold a strike vote as early as November, which could lead to a strike after a 72-hour cooling period.
What wage increases did CapitalCare's general support workers secure?
General support workers with CapitalCare secured a 12 per cent pay increase over four years, along with improvements to occupational health and safety, respectful workplace language, on-call pay, preceptor pay, vacation benefits, and allowances for safe footwear.
