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The NDP government is facing both fiscal and political challenges this year as a multitude of major labour contracts come open.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees will have 74 contracts expire in 2017, including its deal for employees of government ministries, while both the United Nurses of Alberta and the Health Sciences Association of Alberta will see their contracts with Alberta Health Services run out as of April 1.

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The Alberta Teachers Association meanwhile has been bargaining since its contract expired last year.

The issue came to the forefront this week with word that 13,000 Licensed Practical Nurses and health care aides that work for AHS and are represented by the AUPE will vote on a mediator-recommended deal that will see them receive a 1.2 per cent raise for the first year and 0.8 per cent in the second year.

The period covers April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2017.

That prompted a furious reaction from the Wildrose, with the Opposition demanding a public-sector wage freeze and calling the pay increases a “slap in the face to struggling Albertans.”