United Nurses of Alberta and Alberta Health Services have released a joint communication with information for Employees who take temporary positions with different Employers after the new provincial health agencies or provincial health corporations have been established, but before the introduction of the separate payroll systems.

  • Currently applies to:

    • Recovery Alberta (RA)

    • Primary Care Alberta (PCA)

    • Assisted Living Alberta (ALA)

    • Acute Care Alberta (ACA)

  • Will also apply to (when established):

    • Cancer Care Alberta (CCA)

    • Give Life Alberta (GLA)

    • Emergency Health Services (EHS)

Until the Payroll Transfer Date from AHS to the new provincial health agency or provincial health corporation, everything will continue to be administered as though they remain a single Employer and nothing will change for Employees’ terms and conditions of employment.

At this time, a specific date has not been identified for when the payroll system will transfer from AHS to any of the new provincial health agencies or provincial health corporations.

  • Once new payroll systems are implemented:

    • Agencies become separate Employers.

    • Movement between Employers will be governed by the Collective Agreement (similar to the agreement between AHS and Covenant). 

During the interim period (after new health agencies are established but before separate payroll systems are in place):

  1. Employees can freely apply for temporary positions across AHS and all new health agencies or corporations.

  2. They will be treated as internal candidates for these positions.

  3. If successful, the employee must request a Leave of Absence (similar to Article 22.02), strictly for administrative tracking — cannot be denied.

  4. This process ensures the employee has the right to return to their original position after the temporary assignment, even if it ends after payroll systems are separated.

  5. Return rights and placement obligations are governed by Article 14.08(c)(ii) — either reinstatement to the former position or another suitable role, in consultation with the Union.

  6. These same return protections also apply if the temporary position starts and ends before the new payroll systems are implemented.