Lethbridge health-care workers participate in provincewide ‘Day of Unity’ rally

Alberta health-care workers rallied outside of hospitals on Thursday as part of a Day of Unity. Quinn Keenan reports.

Health-care workers across the province rallied outside of hospitals on Thursday as part of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta’s (HSAA) “Day of Unity” in protest of the government’s latest contract offer to the union.

The association represents 22,000 medical professionals, including paramedics, pharmacists, mental health and addictions counsellors and more.

In Lethbridge, about a hundred health-care workers and supporters marched outside the Chinook Regional Hospital.

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“It’s an amazing turnout here today,” said Janet Pederson, an X-ray technician and member of the HSAA South District board of directors. “It’s great support here in Lethbridge, and it’s happening all over the province.”

“Everybody is out rallying, hoping that we will be heard and the government will take us seriously.”

Fifty-nine per cent of HSAA members voted against the latest contract offer from the province.

The new deal would have seen members receive a minimum 12 per cent raise by 2027.

It also featured better benefits, increases to on-call premiums, long service pay and more.

The province says it is disappointed their offer was rejected, but isn’t closing the door on negotiations.

“We are aware of today’s HSAA rallies in several communities across Alberta,” A statement from Minister of Finance Nate Horner’s office said. “Alberta Health Services and the HSAA remain at the bargaining table.”

“We are committed to reaching a fair and fiscally responsible agreement that supports health-care workers and protects taxpayers.”

Association members will continue to push for a better deal.

They say they’ve been the ones dealing with the ramifications of an overburdened healthcare system.

“We’re constantly short staffed and severe burnout is driving lots of professionals out of the health-care system and out of Alberta, creating crisis in our hospitals and our health care centers,” said Pederson.

The HSAA isn’t considering voting on strike action at this time.