Local nurses union calls new collective agreement ‘quite fair’

Jan 28, 2022 | 3:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – After two years of negotiations, there’s finally a sense of relief for local nurses.

Their union voted to ratify a new collective agreement, for which 87 per cent of registered nurses voted in favour.

Local union president Megan Eggins says it’s been a very long process, with negotiations taking two years. The new agreement includes a 4.25 per cent wage increase over four years and improved benefits.

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Eggins calls the agreement fair and promising.

“A lot was emphasized on mental health, which is great and also rural retention,” Eggins said. “So that’s a huge thing. It’s not just monetary, it’s other projects that are being built in that I think makes this contract quite fair.”

The United Conservative government was seeking wage cuts and other contract rollbacks from nurses. The party argued nurses were paid more here than in other jurisdictions.

by Teagan Rasche

Local nurses union calls new collective agreement ‘quite fair’

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