Health care professionals rally as talks with the government continue
By Quinn Olson on October 9, 2025
Members of the Health Science Association of Alberta (HSAA) held rallies across the province demanding a better contract. HSAA held 11 rallies, representing over 22,000 members of the health care system.
Health care workers recently voted to reject the government’s tentative agreement and went public with their concerns. The agreement would have seen a 12 per cent wage increase over a four-year period which the union did not see as good enough.
“If the government wants to solve this, they need to come back with a better offer,” said Mike Parker, President of HSAA Union.
Pharmacists, paramedics, social workers and lab techs are all represented under HSAA.
“Our members have been burnt out, broke down, overworked, can’t see the light of day,” Parker said. “They are leaving this province and leaving their professions, which means the younger generation are going to be entering a world that is unsustainable in the health care model.”
HSAA is still preparing for potential job action. If talks with the government fall through, they say they will proceed to a strike vote.
“It will impact EMS wait times, therapy times and all sorts of health care pieces,” says Parker. “There are currently half a million people on health care waitlists in this province, and a strike isn’t going to help that.”
Both sides have expressed a desire to continue bargaining.