PrintUNA responds to transfer of public health nurse positions from AHS to Primary Care Alberta
United Nurses of Alberta has been informed that nurses represented by the union working in public health roles will have their positons transferred from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to the Primary Care Alberta (PCA) agency. The government announced the transfer from AHS to PCA on May 1 as part of Bill 55: Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, which was tabled in the Legislature this afternoon by Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.
A statement released by the Alberta government states that “Primary Care Alberta will oversee front-line public health services, such as communicable disease control, immunizations, newborn screening and health promotion.”
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 Leter of Understanding in the new Provincial Collective Agreement signed by United Nurses of Alberta and AHS retains and expands the rights of Employees affected by the creation of new Provincial Health Agencies.
The transfer is part of the Alberta government’s ongoing restructuring of the public AHS, into five separate sector-based provincial health agencies: Acute Care Alberta, Continuing Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, Alberta Health Shared Services, and PCA.
As was the case when other Employees were transferred from AHS to PCA in December 2024, Employees currently represented by UNA will continue to be 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.
UNA members can visit UNA’s Primary Care Alberta page for more information. UNA will share updates as we receive them.
