With a minute left before nurses across Alberta were set to go on strike, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) reached a tentative deal with the provincial government.

”It’s been grueling. It’s been frustrating at times, because we sometimes don’t know who we’re bargaining with, so calls need to be made to get authorization,” said Sanda Azocar, AUPE president, at a press conference in Edmonton.

Azocar said negotiations would last most days until 11 p.m., but Friday’s lasted until 1 o’clock Saturday morning. She said the final call from the province came in Saturday morning, moments before the 8:30 a.m. strike deadline.

”This deal may not include 100 per cent of what we asked for, but it sets a new standard in health care and more broadly in the labor movement,” said Azocar.

See Full Page