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By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

AUPE supports better wages for LPNs but not reclassification

Jul 11, 2023 | 11:05 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) said it agrees with Licenced Practical Nurses (LPN) that they deserve respect and dignity.

Last month, a group called LPNs for Change started a movement to be reclassified as providing “Direct Nursing Care” as opposed to the current status of “Auxiliary Nursing Care.” A spokesperson with the group told Pattison Media that reclassification is about respect and acknowledgement of the work they do.

On July 5 and 6, AUPE held a series of town hall meetings with LPNs across the province. Thousands of members took part and discussed their profession, working conditions, and preparations for collective bargaining in 2024.

AUPE vice-president Susan Slade said LPNs do far more work now than in previous years, but their pay has not adequately increased alongside it.

“We know that LPNs, their scope has increased exponentially, the workload has increased, and it’s time for Alberta Health Services and Covenant [Health] to give these workers what they deserve,” explained Slade.

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Slade said that AUPE is gearing up for an “aggressive” round of contract talks with the LPNs’ employers that will include higher wages and more recognition. However, she believes that nurses will only get the changes that they want if they stay with AUPE.

The application from LPNs for Change to the Alberta Labour Relations Board seeks to have AUPE’s 11,000 members leave the union and join United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) instead. UNA is one of Alberta’s major representatives for Registered Nurses (RN).

“The application would restructure Alberta’s healthcare system and move LPNs out of AUPE, and we really feel that is not a good move for LPNs,” said Slade. “It’s proven in other jurisdictions that have Registered Nurses and Licenced Practical Nurses in the same union that the Licenced Practical Nurses’ growth has stagnated.”

A statement from AUPE adds, “Being undemocratically removed from AUPE would plunge LPNs into risky, uncharted waters, with no guarantees for what a new contract would look like or how you would be represented by another union.”

Instead, Slade said that LPNs would be in a better bargaining position staying where they currently are.

AUPE’s legal counsel, Pat Nugent, believes that LPNs for Change’s labour board application will fail given that similar applications in the past have been unsuccessful.

It is currently unknown when the Alberta Labour Relations Board will make a decision. In the meantime, Slade said AUPE will continue to speak with LPNs heading into bargaining next year.