Last week, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees published an update on their website regarding contract negotiations for workers employed by Saint Elizabeth Health Services.
These 180 or so workers are employed at Millrise Seniors Village in Southwest Calgary and include health care aides, licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, kitchen staff, servers, occupational therapist, maintenance staff, laundry staff, and so on.
Their most recent contract expired in August of 2025, more than a year ago, and it took nearly 4 years to settle. It was actually supposed to end at the end of 2024, but the Alberta Labour Relations Board ruled last year to extend it by 8 months.
Bargaining began last year but by this past February, talks broke down and the workers’ bargaining team filed for informal mediation with the ALRB.
The employer refused to move on their initial wage offer, which was 2.5% in the first year and 1.5% in each of the next two years. However, by the time the two parties met for mediation in June, Saint Elizabeth Health Services had upped their offer to 2.5% each year of the contract.
They also agreed to an additional 5% this year and next year, for kitchen workers, servers, housekeepers, laundry aides, and receptionists, as well as 4% between wage grid steps for registered nurses who had reached 9,750 hours.
That was not enough for workers, however, so Saint Elizabeth Health Services sweetened their deal slightly.
| Initial | Mediated | Latest | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | 2.50% | 2.50% | 3.00% |
| 1 January 2027 | 1.50% | 2.50% | 2.75% |
| 1 January 2028 | 1.50% | 2.50% | 2.75% |
| 5.50% | 7.50% | 8.50% |
Keep in mind that Alberta’s consumer price index in January 2019—the last time these workers got a raise before their last contract—was 140.5. Fast forward 7 years to when they should be getting their first raise of the new contract, it sat at 173.5, a jump of 33 points. In other words, inflation has increased 23.49% during that time.
Over that same period, wages increased 8.25%, or 8.52% if we account for compounding increases.
| 1 January 2020 | 0.00% |
| 1 January 2021 | 1.00% |
| 1 January 2022 | 1.25% |
| 1 January 2023 | 2.00% |
| 1 January 2024 | 2.00% |
| 1 January 2025 | 2.00% |
Since inflation increased by about 23.5% during the same time these workers saw wages increase by only 8.25% (8.52%), they were left with a cut to real wages of 15.24% (14.79%).
The increase of 8.5% that Saint Elizabeth has proposed will still fall short of making up for lost wages. If you include the 10%, then it will, but keep in mind that these raises are over 3 years, which means another 3 years of inflation, which will bring those wages down.
The 9% over 3 years plus 15% over the first two years that the workers’ bargaining committee is proposing for some of the workers is much more reasonable. Although the market adjustments for LPNs and health care aides still fall short.
According to last week’s update, the bargaining committee for the worker is seeking 3% per year, which is what public sector workers have been getting across the province in contracts ratified over the last year and a half.
On top of that, they want not only the 5% wage increase promised by Saint Elizabeth this year for the abovementioned positions but also double what they offered next year for those same positions.
Plus, they want market adjustments of 2.5% for licensed practical nurses and 3% for health care aides.
The two parties, however, have agreed to improvements in practicum pay, preceptor pay, in-charge/responsibility pay, practice permit fee reimbursement for health care aides, and improved benefits, including paramedical services and mental health services.
The two parties will meet with the mediator next month to continue mediation.
