PrintUNA responds to transfer of nurses from AHS to Primary Care Alberta
United Nurses of Alberta has been informed that nurses represented by the union working in Health Link 811, Primary Care Networks, Provincial Midwifery Services, select primary care clinics, Facilitated Access to Surgical Treatment (FAST) program, Virtual Care, Access and Navigation (V-CAN) and the Primary Health Care provincial program will be transferred from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to the new Primary Care Alberta (PCA) agency. The government has announced that the staff transfer from AHS to PCA is effective February 1, 2025.
While UNA remains deeply concerned about the chaos caused by this restructuring on nurses and their ability to deliver the best patient care possible within the public health care system, a Letter of Understanding signed by United Nurses of Alberta and AHS on May 31, 2024 retains and expands the rights of Employees affected by the creation of new Provincial Health Agencies.
The announcement is part of the Alberta government’s ongoing restructuring of the public AHS, into four separate sector-based provincial health agencies: primary care, acute care, continuing care and mental health and addiction.
Despite previously informing UNA that the primary care, acute care, continuing care agencies would be responsible for governance and policy but not be Employers, that appears to have changed in the case of Primary Care Alberta, which will now be an Employer.
As was the case when Employees were transferred from AHS to Recovery Alberta earlier this year, Employees currently represented by UNA will remain represented by UNA when they are transferred to the new Employer.
Under the LOU, Employees will have the option to transfer to the new Employer or to remain employed with AHS, with full rights to displace or fill a vacant position under Article 15 of the Provincial Collective Agreement. Indirectly affected Employees displaced by affected Employees will have, in addition to full Article 15 rights, the right to select a vacant position at PCA.
All affected Employees transferred from AHS to PCA will initially be treated as a part of a single bargaining unit for the purpose of administering the current Provincial Collective Agreement. This will last until the payroll transfer date. UNA does not yet know when this payroll transfer date will take place.
A tiered system for hiring and downsizing will also take effect, meaning that PCA Employees will no longer be treated as internal candidates when applying for vacant positions within AHS but they will be considered ahead of other external applicants not employed by a Provincial Health Agency.
In the event of downsizing, PCA employees will have the ability to displace other positions within PCA or apply for vacant positions within AHS. If an PCA Employee is laid off, they can be recalled to AHS.
The LOU also applies to casual Employees who pick up additional shifts, and includes provisions for Employees on Leaves of Absence, Workers’ Compensation, and Disability.
This page will be updated and the union will share more information as we receive it.
Documents for impacted members
Explaining the transition from AHS to Primary Care Alberta (FAQ)
This frequently asked questions document answers some of the key questions that UNA members have about how their employment will be impacted if their positions are moved to the new sector-based provincial health authority responsible for primary care.
Letter of Understanding re: Transition of Employees pursuant to Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2024:
This LOU signed by UNA and Alberta Health Services retains and expands the rights of Employees affected by the creation of Recovery Alberta and other future Provincial Health Agencies. For more information about this LOU, read UNA's statement from May 31, 2024.
UNA Layoff & Recall FAQ:
This guide provides UNA members, locals, and staff with answers to the questions most frequently asked about layoff and position elimination.
Employer/UNA Joint Layoff & Recall Statements:
This document is intended to be a resource document that guides Employer Human Resources and UNA Labour Relations Officers through the layoff and recall process. Where these joint statements contradict statements in the UNA Layoff and Recall Manual or the AHS Layoff and Recall Manual, this document takes precedence.
