Attention Alberta LPN's

Fiona59 · Feb 10, 2008

You needed to post this in the Canadian Nurses Forum, perhaps a Mod can move it???

Yes, we are p*ssed off. Our union got screwed last time around to put it bluntly. They gave away part-timers OT shifts because the negotiating committee was told that "all other nursing unions will lose it in their negotiations". We were told to settle because it was a good contract for the Nursing Assistants.

AUPE is not the union for professional nurses but having said that UNA would not work well for PNs. The attitude from the staff at CARNA and UNA is terrible towards PNs. They see us as their "little helpers".

We are hoping that AUPE demands and gets us a wage relevant to our skill set. In LTC, Medicine, Surgery, PostPartum units there are very few skills that we do not perform. We are tired of hearing that RNs have "critical thinking skills", PNs know how to think and respond. Many of us have degrees in other fields.

We are not saying we can replace RNs but we should be paid for our knowledge, professionalism, and skills. Currently we are working at a 90% skill set of the RN, we deserve an hourly rate that reflects that.

And for what its worth, the $40/hour RN rate only really works out if you are working as Charge on a night shift or so we've been told.

We have been deemed an "essential service" in the past and refused the right to strike. When we have struck our union has been penalized financially. It's amazing how essential we can become when families have to step in and help their elderly in LTC or managers have to work the floor in active treatment.

OgopogoLPN, LPN, RN · Feb 11, 2008

Fiona, what is an average LPN wage in Alberta? I understand that it is far less than BC (which is I believe $21.94/hour, at least for Interior Health).

I know an LPN who moved here from Calgary because she was making $17/hour there!!!

More power to you guys, I hope you get what you're asking for!!

onesteaLPN · Feb 11, 2008

Thanks for the response, I have no idea how to get this thread moved. CARNA & UNA's attitudes have to change. It's sad though it's not just them with the bad attitude, it's everywhere on these forums! The province I work in has it right...there is only a $3.00 difference between RN's/LPN's...A degree Nurse get's a couple dollars more than a diploma Nurse. Alberta is supposedly the richest province...what a JOKE! Plus you have to pay for healthcare! It's time to stick together and fight instead of sitting back letting this crap happen, letting other healthcare professionals treat us like all we did was take some mickey mouse course!

Fiona59 · Feb 12, 2008

$17.91 to $23.45 (after five years). Weekend shift diff is $1.75 and Evening/night diff is $1.75.

Specialty tagged PNs (Dialysis, & OR Techs) usually make an entire $0.60/hour extra for the skills and training.

I know, I know. Alberta is one of the least union friendly provinces in the country.

I worked in BC for a while and wasn't impressed even though I made more money. No meds, no respect for my education. Everything I had experience in was "an RNs job". So basically, I was a glorified NA.

suzanne4, RN · Feb 12, 2008

Thread has been moved to the Canadian Forum as requested.