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Sign opposing the salary rollback for Alberta healthcare workers
Parties meet tomorrow

Nurses union rep says government’s proposed 3 per cent salary cut a ‘punch to the gut’

Jul 7, 2021 | 3:43 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Alberta’s finance minister wants to roll back nurses’ wages to get help the province’s finances on track.

Travis Toews says the province respects the role nurses played during the pandemic but says Alberta nurses make about five and a half per cent more than nurses in comparable provinces.

Local union representative and registered nurse Megan Eggins says she’s not surprised but she’s also frustrated because, before the pandemic, the government proposed a zero per cent raise.

After a draining year for nurses, Eggins says it seems like the government has put a value on their work.

“I would say the government proposing a rollback is a punch to the gut especially with the pandemic and the role that nurses played this whole time, Eggins said. “We are valuable for a certain part of it and then all of the sudden we’re worthless.”

Eggins says the union is doing lawn signs and for anyone who wants one to message the local United Nurses of Alberta Facebook page.

Another nurse we spoke to said if her salary is cut, she will go back to working in Saskatchewan.

The parties are expected to meet again tomorrow.