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19 per cent pay hike for thousands of Alberta health-care staff

Last Updated: Friday, August 22, 2008 | 1:00 PM ET

CBC News

More than 13,000 unionized health-care workers in Alberta have accepted a new four-year agreement that will see them earning at least 19 per cent more by the end of the four-year contract.

The deal covers auxiliary nursing staff, including licenced practical nurses and nursing attendants.

"Our auxiliary nursing care members now have an agreement that recognizes the value of their work and addresses significant challenges facing employers in the health sector labour market," Alberta Union of Provincial Employees official Doug Knight said in a news release.

The agreement gives the workers a five per cent pay hike in each of the first two years, and at least 4.5 per cent in the final two. There are also provisions for added increases if average wages in the province increase more quickly.

As well, more than 90 per cent of the members will receive a "market adjustment" of at least 10 per cent in the first year of the agreement, Knight said.

Staff shortages in Alberta's health-care field have become a major problem.

In the spring speech from the throne, the government promised to do more to train doctors, recruit nurses and other medical professionals, and keep existing staff from leaving.

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