Transfer of nurses to provincial agencies from Alberta Health Services
United Nurses of Alberta has been informed that effective September 1, 2025, close to 5,000 positions held by Registered Nurses represented by the union have been identified for transfer from Alberta Health Services to Acute Care Alberta (ACA), the three provincial health care corporations overseen by ACA, and Assisted Living Alberta (ALA).
The Alberta government said the staff transfers from AHS will become effective on September 1, 2025. Formal transfer notices are expected to be sent to employees between July 21 and 24. We are aware that some members have received information notification today.
The government says these position transfers affecting UNA members will be broken down as follows:
56 to the Emergency Health Services (EHS) provincial health care corporation, under ACA
936 to the Cancer Care Alberta (CCA) provincial health care corporation, under ACA
3,969 to the Assisted Living Alberta provincial health care agency
UNA has been informed these transfers of positions held by members from AHS will be treated as a successorship as outlined in legislation, which means their current collective agreement will continue to apply.
The day-to-day work for staff transitioning will be the same and they will continue to use the same systems and processes, including Connect Care and e-People, UNA was also told.
UNA remains deeply concerned by the chaos caused by this restructuring on nurses and their ability to deliver the best patient care possible within the public health care system. However, a Letter of Understanding signed by United Nurses of Alberta and AHS on May 31, 2024, which is now part of the Provincial Collective Agreement, retains and expands the rights of employees affected by the creation of new provincial health agencies and provincial health corporations.
The announcement is part of the Alberta government’s ongoing restructuring of publicly owned and operated Alberta Health Services into four separate sector-based provincial health agencies: Primary Care Alberta (covering physicians and public health), Acute Care Alberta (hospitals and other facilities), Recovery Alberta (mental health and addiction), and Assisted Living Alberta (continuing care).
Despite previously informing UNA that the primary care, acute care, and continuing care agencies would be responsible for governance and policy but not be employers, it is unclear whether that has now changed in the case of Primary Care Alberta, Recovery Alberta, EHS, CCA, and ALA. We have asked for clarity about who will be considered an employer and will update members as soon as possible.
More information may be posted to UNA Forums.
