November 20, 2025
AUPE serves strike notice
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has served a 72-hour strike notice for its 16,000-member bargaining unit, which includes Licensed Practical Nurses, Health Care Aides, and other workers employed by Alberta Health Services, Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Assisted Living Alberta, and the Allen Gray Continuing Care Centre. The strike is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 22. Watch for updates from the Provincial office on how best to support our colleagues
In forums, under “Discussions”, there is a news section called “Strike Support – Supporting Colleagues”. You are encouraged to post your questions in that section. Questions will be monitored and answered by Labour Relations staff.
Alberta labour law states that employees cannot be disciplined for refusing to perform the duties of employees who are legally on strike. However, the distinction between direct nursing care provided by Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses represented by UNA and that provided by LPNs and HCAs represented by AUPE will, in many cases, not be clear.
Moreover, when the AUPE strike commences, UNA members will be required to report to work for their regular shifts. Some LPNs will also be required to be at work under AUPE’s Essential Service Agreements (ESAs) with employers.
Under the law, capable and qualified non-union management employees are expected to do the work of striking employees, and AUPE is required to send in striking members under the workplace ESA if there are not enough exempt employees to meet the minimum threshold.
UNA therefore recommends that its members keep in mind the following points:
- Wear your RN or RPN pin on the job to make it clear why you are at work.
- Pay close attention to work that would normally be done by LPNs and HCAs.
- Where there is confusion as to what LPN or HCA work is and what RN/RPN work is, seek clarity as soon as possible from your out-of-scope manager.
- Note how many LPNs are on each shift and, if there are insufficient numbers, inform your manager that you cannot do the work of a missing LPN.
- In the event you are ordered to do LPN or HCA work, obey and grieve later if your refusal is met with the threat of discipline.
- Immediately inform your Local or UNA Labour Relations Officer if you feel you are being asked to do the work of striking employees, if more RNs/RPNs are suddenly being scheduled to work, or if you are reassigned to a different work area.
Remember, in addition to minimum levels of staffing for LPNs and HCAs, AUPE’s legally required Essential Service Agreements with employers mean AUPE is responsible for sending in striking employees if there are not enough exempt employees to meet the minimum threshold.
AUPE’s ESA states clearly: “During a strike or lockout at a site, the Employer shall not … assign work that would normally be performed by an employee in the bargaining unit that is on strike or lockout to employees in other bargaining units.”
UNA strongly encourages members during breaks and time off to join their co-workers on their picket lines as they exercise their constitutional right to take strike action, and to express their support in conversations with elected officials.
Blank picket signs, pins saying “UNA supports our co-workers,” and additional RN and RPN badges are available from the Provincial Office in Edmonton.
Picket line locations are available on AUPE’s website. AUPE is not on strike at the worksites of Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre and all private long-term-care facilities.
United Nurses of Alberta, Local 196 
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