Calgary Health Workers Gear Up for Strike Vote: What It Means for You

Calgary’s healthcare system is facing a critical juncture as thousands of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and Health Care Aides (HCAs) under the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) cast potential strike votes. This pivotal decision, unfolding from October 30 to November 3, 2025, follows unresolved contract negotiations with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and could significantly impact local services. Formal mediation in the Nursing Care sector has concluded without agreement, pushing union members towards this potential job action.

For Calgarians, the prospect of a strike is particularly concerning given existing pressures on the city's hospitals. Facilities like the Peter Lougheed Centre and South Health Campus often operate at or above capacity, leading to extended emergency room wait times and patients sometimes being treated in hallways. Healthcare professionals are already grappling with burnout and staffing shortages, a situation expected to worsen with the upcoming respiratory illness season.

AUPE members are fighting for fair raises, benefits, and working conditions, highlighting their financial struggles amidst rising living costs and existing understaffing challenges. The union has a history of striking to advance members' demands, including wildcat strikes in 2020 that led to postponed surgeries. As Alberta Health Services undergoes a major restructuring, workers report ongoing uncertainty and "chaos" within the system.

Residents are urged to stay informed about potential service impacts as the outcome of this strike vote holds considerable significance for the lifeline of Calgary’s healthcare.