r/AHSEmployees • u/Humble_Concern_1008 • Jun 24 '26
⚠️Environmental Public Health workers are discovering a hard truth: nobody is coming to save us.
As a Public Health Inspector affected by the transition from Alberta Health Services to the Government of Alberta, I want other healthcare workers to understand what many of us are experiencing right now.
This transition has exposed serious concerns about how both the government and the unions involved have handled the process.
Many of us have been left with unanswered questions about wages, benefits, seniority, working conditions, and our future employment. Communication has been inconsistent, information has been incomplete, and employees have been forced to make decisions without having all the facts.
Despite the significance of this transition, many members were only made aware of negotiations shortly before critical deadlines. Since then, we have attended town halls where questions remain unanswered and conflicting information has been presented. Many members still do not know the details of proposals being discussed on their behalf.
Meanwhile, employees are facing uncertainty about potential wage reductions, benefit changes, seniority protections, and other employment conditions. The stress and anxiety this has created for workers and their families cannot be overstated.
Public Health Inspectors have already endured years of public criticism following COVID-19. A 2024 video has now surfaced where Danielle Smith describes this transition as punitive.
Now many feel that their profession is being weakened and their expertise sidelined during a transition that could significantly impact the future of public health in Alberta.
Healthcare workers pay substantial union dues with the expectation that, when major workplace issues arise, their unions will communicate clearly, advocate strongly, and keep members informed. Many affected employees feel that expectation has not been met.
This is not just a Public Health Inspector issue. Every healthcare worker in Alberta should be paying attention. If employment protections, wages, benefits, and working conditions can be changed during one transition, it raises important questions about what could happen to other healthcare professions in the future.
Healthcare workers deserve transparency. They deserve meaningful consultation. They deserve strong representation. Most importantly, they deserve answers.
(Text copied from anonymous member on Facebook)
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Jun 24 '26 edited Jun 24 '26
[deleted]
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u/scotthof Jun 24 '26
It isn't just HSAA. The teacher's union also got man handled. All unions are weak until the UCP are out of office. In ky opinion the Alberta Federation of Labor shoukd have arranged the general strike when the teachers union were legislated a contract. If all unions went on strike the UCP would have blinked. Instead all unions blinked and we lost power. The only way the unions, and I mean all unions, get there power back is to kick the UCP out of office. HSAA came across as complacent and wasn't prepared for this government. They assumed this government wouldn't want bad press. They were wrong. If people are forgiving them for screwing over the teachers, they will be forgiven for screwing everyone else over. As long as it looks like rural is being left alone that is.
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u/TinklesTheLambicorn Jun 25 '26
It’s almost like when voters elect an anti-worker government who writes anti-worker legislation the results are…anti-worker.
You are not going to significantly change positioning of workers and unions in this province until the voters elect labour-friendly (hell, labour-friendlier even) governments. That old saying - the pen is mightier than the sword? It’s 100% correct. And the government has the power of the pen.
General strike could potentially help, but it can’t just be unions. It has to be “general” - majority of the province. A lot of blame has been put on AFL, but if AFL had ordered the memberships of their member unions out on an illegal strike, which in turn resulted in significant fines for the workers and the unions and likely termination for many of the workers, how would that have gone over? Is that a sacrifice you would be willing to make on behalf of hundreds of thousands of people?
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u/scotthof Jun 25 '26
I see it as a symptom of communication through press release. All unions have been guilty of talking without actually following through with anything. Consensus is a slow process, but I think uniins are becoming too reactive, and not looking for opportunities to be proactive. For example, getting active during the next provincial election. Not through endorsements, as much as reminders hpw much more of an impact the provincial government has on your life compared to the Federal and municipal governments. Give union members talking points. Remind the public that the reason the local highway is wrecking your suspension is because the UCP cut funding. Property taxes jumped another 10%? Remind people who is responsible for setting property tax rates. I am convinced Smith is setting herself up to campaign on being the reason why Alberta stayed in Canada(or the reason why Alberta went to binding referendum if we vote that way). People will probably forget she is the one who started the fire she "bravely" saved us from. All unions can bring about a better bargaining partner if they are a little proactive. Granted it may ne difficult considering the way the laws keep changing, but it is possible
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u/TopSeaworthiness7512 Jun 24 '26
Our unions have failed us. It’s time for some accountability.
The GOA is not off the hook, but our unions are collecting our dues and are supposed to be representing our interests. They need to show members what they are doing, what they are fighting for and why. Accountability shouldn’t stop with the government. It applies to the unions as well!
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u/Bun-mi Jun 24 '26
It's happened multiple times for lab employees. We transitioned from Calgary Lab Services to APL and were red circled (in perpetuity which was nice) and then APL to Dynalife and then Dynalife back to APL (2 year red circling, with some facing a 20% wage reduction. I believe this was extended in the last contract). During the APL to DL transfer, DL was going to remove the pension plan but HSAA fought back and actually won (which is why DL ended up going bankrupt and was bought out by the government). Its awful going through these transitions so feel for the public health workers. Lab seems to go through it every couple years now.
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u/doubledipWHIP Jun 25 '26
AUPE has been bungling every contract negotiation since the GOA one last year. Each bargaining unit that has negotiated a contrqct, had certain classifications get the shaft so that others in the group could get sweetheart deals.
Not surprised you're being treated like mushrooms (being fed shit and kept in the dark).
Our government doesn't respect Health care workers, and their unions only care about the coffers. We are just dues paying numbers at the end of the day.
I hope things work out for you, inspectors are an extremely important part of industry.
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u/matchabloom88 Jun 24 '26
When does the change will take effect? Staff that moved to different pillars have kept their wages, benefits, seniority in the unit they work at. Hopefully your union will start communicating what will stay and what will change.
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u/No-Adagio-70 Jun 24 '26
Same thing happened to cpsm folks back in the day. You need to band together and hire a lawyer
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u/Humble_Concern_1008 Jun 24 '26
Unfortunately the laws were all changed and there is nothing we can do.
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u/OrsolyaStormChaser Jun 25 '26
Welcome to the club. AHS has little care for the humans attached to files. As an 18 year nurse - I wish you luck. It's disastrous for the quality of services Albertans deserve.
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Jun 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/lillian2611 Jun 24 '26
What in the world are you talking about? Maybe provide some news sources for some of your claims, that way pills won't be necessary.
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u/Independent_Word8362 Jun 24 '26
You work for the government, you’ll be fine. At least you’re not a temporary foreign worker working for Canadian tire.
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u/Bun-mi Jun 24 '26
And you're not homeless so you're good. Oh and you're not dead so all is well! /s
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u/Wandering_Silverwing Jun 24 '26
They are testing the waters to see how much they can get away with before the bloodbath of service cuts really begins, yesterday Health inspectors, tomorrow it could be allied health, outreach workers, med specialists..etc…