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In a statement provided to Postmedia, AHS said its proposal aligns compensation with the economic realities Alberta is facing.

“Our proposal reflects the need to align compensation more closely with comparable provinces, while ensuring employees are paid fairly, competitively and in a fiscally responsible manner,” said AHS spokesman Kerry Williamson in an email.

The UNA says the proposal has nothing to do with Alberta’s economic position, but is designed to put Alberta nurses at the bottom of what is called the Ontario-West Standard.

“They’re saying we should be rolled back to a standard that hasn’t existed in this province since 1990,” said Smith. “They are cherry-picking provisions in our contract that they consider superior to the comparatives they choose to look at, and saying, ‘We want you to be at the bottom.'”

Smith also said the union, which represents 30,000 Alberta registered nurses and psychiatric nurses from AHS, Covenant Health, Lamont Health Centre and The Bethany Group, will also file bad-faith bargaining charges against Health Minister Tyler Shandro over statements he has made on social media.

Smith said she’s always optimistic negotiations can bring about a resolution but remained firm that wouldn’t happen under current conditions.

“An agreement under these terms and conditions is impossible,” said Smith. “This is clearly not just bad news for members we represent but I’m sure is indicative of what all the public sector workers in health can expect when they go to bargaining tables.”

Last week an arbitrator ruled teachers and nurses would not receive a pay increase under their current contracts.

The next round of bargaining is scheduled for Jan. 30-31.

dshort@postmedia.com

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