Workers Struggles: The Americas
Strike looms as Alberta government demands wage “roll-back” for provincial nurses
The Alberta Health Service (AHS) has demanded that the 30,000 provincial nurses accept a 3 percent cut in wages, the elimination of scheduled lump sum payments and reduced shift and weekend premiums in contract negotiations currently underway. The cuts would amount to more than a 5 percent reduction in compensation for the members of the Alberta Nurses Union. The move is an additional provocation against the nurses. Only last March, the AHS an arm of the right-wing United Conservative government of Premier Jason Kenney had demanded a four-year wage freeze.