Nursing care staff represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees have voted 98 per cent in favour of strike action.

The vote took place between Oct. 30 and Nov. 3. The union says 11,031 members cast a ballot.

"They voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action because they are fed up with stagnant wages and unsafe working conditions that hurt workers, patients, and Alberta's public health care system," AUPE president Sandra Azocar said at a news conference in Edmonton Wednesday.

AUPE says talks with its employer, Alberta Health Services and the four organizations that replace the former provincial health authority, broke down in April. Bargaining between the two sides are set to resume Thursday for mediation.

The 16,000 members, who are mostly licensed practical nurses a

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