UNA members reject mediator’s collective agreement [Video]

Alberta’s nurses have rejected a new collective agreement proposed by a mediator.

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In the online vote on Wednesday, 60.48 per cent of locals and 38.88 per cent of United Nurses of Alberta’s (UNA) members voted to accept the mediator’s recommendation.

A majority amongst both locals and members was needed to ratify the agreement.

All locals participated in the vote, while 75 per cent of UNA’s 30,000 members participated.

“This was clearly a vote on whether or not Alberta nurses feel respected,” UNA President Heather Smith said in a statement Thursday morning. “The membership obviously did not feel respected by this recommended agreement.”

The UNA said it would be contacting employers immediately to discuss next steps. Smith said it was in “everyone’s interest” to get back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

She, at the …