Minor progress continues in June 17-18 mediation

Minor progress continued on Tuesday, June 17, and Wednesday, June 18, as representatives for United Nurses of Alberta and Alberta Health Services and other employers worked with Alberta Mediation Services to reach agreement on a new Provincial Collective Agreement.

The following dates remain scheduled for further mediation: June 23-26, and July 2-4 and 8-10. However, no further dates are scheduled beyond July 10.

As a result, the UNA Negotiating Committee has called a Reporting Meeting for July 15 in Calgary at which the committee will report on the progress in bargaining and mediation to more than 500 delegates from across the province representing all affected UNA locals.

Generally at a Reporting Meeting the committee reports either that it has reached a tentative agreement, in which case delegates review the agreement and determine if the assembly recommends ratification, or that negotiations are at an impasse.

In the event of an impasse, delegates discuss an appropriate response that can bring negotiations to a successful conclusion with a fair collective agreement for the union’s members.

Details about the Reporting Meeting will be provided as soon as arrangements are confirmed. Delegate entitlement will be provided as soon as possible, and UNA Locals should request leaves of absence for their delegates as soon as possible.

UNA and the employer bargaining committee agreed to mediation in April. The parties jointly agreed to David Jones as mediator.

United Nurses of Alberta represents 30,000 Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and allied health workers. The employer group is made up of Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Centre and Bethany Group (Camrose).