Formal mediation continues for Provincial Collective Agreement

United Nurses of Alberta’s Provincial Negotiating Committee began formal mediation with Alberta Health Services, Recovery Alberta, Covenant Health and other employers on January 23, 2025.

UNA applied to the Labour Relations Board to begin formal mediation in order to push the bargaining process forward after a majority of UNA members voted in October 2024 to reject previous recommendations that had been reached through informal mediation.

Formal mediation means that a neutral third-party Mediator has been appointed by Alberta Mediation Services to try to assist UNA and the Employers to reach an agreement. If there is room for a mediated settlement, the Mediator could write recommendations but the Mediator’s recommendations are not binding and either party is free to accept or reject them. Any potential recommended settlement would need to be approved by a vote of UNA’s membership before becoming part of a new Provincial Collective Agreement.

The members of UNA’s Negotiating Committee, who are frontline nurses from every corner of the province, continue to work hard to get a fair agreement that respects nurses and is acceptable to UNA members.

As we move forward in this formal mediation process, the Negotiating Committee asks members to be patient, as the committee is not able to publicly share the details of what is being discussed at the bargaining table.

It is also important to remember that negotiations, particularly at the mediation stage, do not only involve face-to-face meetings in board rooms. There are always a lot of discussions going on with or without formal dates being set. Sometimes these discussions involve the Employer’s committee and the Mediator, other times it involves our Negotiating Committee and the Mediator, other times it involves all parties.

Until we are able to share more detailed information, UNA encourages its members to connect with their UNA Locals to ensure that their contact information is up to date and take advantage of any opportunities to strengthen solidarity with your co-workers at your worksites. Your bargaining committee is stronger when UNA members are united.

In Solidarity,

David Harrigan
Chief Negotiator and Director of Labour Relations
United Nurses of Alberta