❤️ Happy Nurses Week 2025 to the community nurses of Local 196! ❤️
You’re not just caregivers—you’re lifelines. From home visits to health advocacy, from crisis response to quiet support—you walk into people’s lives with skill, compassion, and heart. You make it better, not in hospital halls, but in living rooms, shelters, schools, and streets.
Community doesn’t happen without care—and you are that care. You meet people where they are and fight for what they need. That’s nursing. That’s leadership. That’s Local 196.
To every community nurse: your work ripples far beyond what most ever see. Thank you for showing up, standing strong, and making it better every single day. 💪❤️
Nurses’ Week Special Episode – The Fiery Mary “Mother” Jones
By Rachel Steel, Geri Ruston and Gerri Logan
Click HERE to listen to the newest podcast episode.
Rachel, Gerri, and Geri take listeners on an unforgettable journey through the life and legacy of Mary “Mother” Jones — the labour organizer once dubbed “the most dangerous woman in America.” From famine-stricken Ireland to the sweatshops and coalfields of the United States, the podcast traces how grief and injustice forged her into a tireless champion for worker safety and dignity.
But this isn’t just a history lesson. It’s a call to action. The episode draws parallels between the brutal conditions Jones fought against and the occupational hazards faced by Alberta nurses today, from violence and burnout to unsafe staffing ratios and systemic neglect.
The legacy of Mary Jones reminds us that the struggle for safe and just workplaces is far from over, and that every nurse who dares to speak out is walking in the footsteps of giants.
This episode was inspired by the OH&S article in the Spring 2025 UNA Bulletin, which highlighted Mary “Mother” Jones—many thanks to UNA OH&S Advisor Dewey Funk for bringing this figure to our attention.
Nearly half of Alberta’s young nurses are leaving the profession within just five years—and it’s not hard to see why. Between long hours, overwhelming stress, and feeling undervalued, many burn out before they find their footing.
Why? With healthcare systems already stretched thin, this trend signals a more profound crisis. While Alberta’s new 2025 agreement introduces higher wages and rural incentives, experts say targeted support—like mentorship, mental health resources, and flexible scheduling—is critical to keeping the next generation of nurses on the front lines.
Click HERE for the new spotlight on Why Young Nurses are leaving Alberta’s Healthcare System.
The Local newsletter was sent via MailChimp with updated member contact information from the Provincial UNA Office. It was sent to personal email addresses only. Please update your contact information in UNA’s DMS system if you have not received our newsletter.
Gabor Maté is a Hungarian-born Canadian physician, bestselling author, and internationally respected speaker, based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over decades of clinical practice in family medicine and palliative care, as well as his groundbreaking work in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside with patients challenged by addiction and mental illness, Maté has become a leading voice on trauma, addiction, childhood development, and mind-body health.
In his talks based on his book “The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture,” Maté explores how many of the chronic illnesses and emotional struggles seen today are not abnormalities, but natural responses to a society that often undermines human needs. He emphasizes that healing requires reconnecting with our authentic selves, fostering compassionate environments, and addressing the cultural conditions that give rise to suffering. His message is one of hope: while trauma can shape us, it does not have to define us.
Maté’s work resonates deeply across Canada and around the world, calling for a shift toward a more humane, trauma-informed approach to health and well-being.
If you have registered and can no longer attend, please cancel your registration in DMS or email Local196Education@una.cabefore the registration deadline.
Organizing for Change: Cori Longo on Activism and the Alberta Federation of Labour
By Rachel Steel
ClickHERE to listen to the newest podcast episode.
In this episode of The Spotlight, we’re joined by Cori Longo, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), for an engaging and inspiring conversation about the power of activism and the importance of labour solidarity in Alberta. Cori takes us through her unique journey—from her first unionized job as a teenager to her time as a postal worker and registered nurse, and eventually into leadership roles within the Canadian Labour Congress and the AFL.
Drawing on over two decades of union experience, Cori shares how her frontline work shaped her commitment to workers’ rights and why political engagement is not just important but essential for protecting public services, workplace conditions, and the future of healthcare in Alberta. She presents a compelling argument for why nurses should view themselves as caregivers, advocates, and changemakers.
Throughout the episode, Cori explains the role of the AFL in supporting workers across all sectors and provides practical, empowering advice on how nurses and other workers can get involved, whether through policy advocacy, union participation, or grassroots organizing.
This episode is more than a conversation—it’s a rallying cry. Cori’s message is clear: when workers raise their voices, they can shift policy, protect their professions, and create lasting change. Whether you’re a seasoned union member or just starting to explore labour activism, this episode offers the insight and motivation to take that next step.
Click HEREfor the new spotlight on Shelters, Sweeps and Substances.
Beliefs and Challenges: Some believe that sweeps (forced cleanups or displacement efforts) will encourage people to move to shelters and access services. However, these actions make it harder for individuals to maintain relationships and access necessary resources, leading to interpersonal conflicts. Additionally, people being forcibly moved often face the loss of important personal property like medications, identification, and blankets.
Housing Crisis and Displacement: The lack of affordable housing contributes to the houselessness crisis. Encampments are being pushed out of inner-city areas, into the suburbs, or further away. These displacements force people into hazardous, less visible areas, which leads to health risks. As a result, there has been an increase in opioid overdoses and stimulant use, as people try to stay awake at night or while on the move.
Substance Use and Fatalities in Edmonton: Fentanyl and Methamphetamine remain the highest risks for accidental drug poisoning fatalities in Edmonton.
Health Risks: The displacement also results in increased incidents of frostbite and amputations, as individuals are forced to endure harsher living conditions without proper shelter or protection.
The Casino Shift: Betting on the Future of Healthcare
Dr. Goldman is one of those rare individuals with great success in not one but several adrenaline-pumping careers. He is a highly regarded emergency physician at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. He’s the host of CBC’s award-winning radio show “White Coat, Black Art”, where he takes listeners behind the scenes of hospitals and doctors’ offices, and the host of the podcast “The Dose” on current events in healthcare. He shares the lessons he learns in healthcare to benefit others, both in the healthcare industry and to help corporations & organizations learn from high-stakes environments. Dr Goldman will speak about the last chapter of his forthcoming book, “The Casino Shift,” which is the Future of Healthcare.
If you have registered and can no longer attend, please cancel your registration in DMS or emailLocal196Education@una.cabefore the registration deadline.
If the deadline has passed and you wish to be placed on the waitlist, please emailLocal196Education@una.ca
Members of United Nurses of Alberta have overwhelmingly ratified a new collective agreement with Alberta Health Services, Recovery Alberta, Primary Care Alberta, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Care Centre, and The Bethany Group (Camrose) that will again make Alberta nurses the highest paid in any Canadian province.
The new agreement includes:
An immediate pay increase of up to 15 per cent
An overall increase of approximately 20 per cent for all affected members
Annual pay increases of 3 per cent in each year of the new agreement
A revised annual pay grid with pay increases of 4 per cent between each step
Pay increases retroactive to April 1, 2024
Significant monetary increases for on-call, charge pay, and other premiums
Full reimbursement of professional registrations and liability fees
New measures to ensure safe staffing
A commitment by the province to provide presumptive coverage for PTSD and psychological injuries
The Local newsletter was sent via MailChimp with updated member contact information from the Provincial UNA Office. It was sent to personal email addresses only. Please update your contact information in UNA’s DMS system if you have not received our newsletter.
United Nurses of Alberta, Local 196 
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