Bargaining Is Over — But Our Fight for Recognition Is Not

The tentative agreement has been ratified, and bargaining has come to a close. On the surface, the deal may look like progress. But for Alberta’s LPNs, the reality is far less encouraging.

The wage gap between RNs and LPNs remains untouched. Once again, the largest scope of practice in the country is being carried out by LPNs who aren't recognized as nurses providing direct nursing care.

This is not an accident — it is structural discrimination.

The government has built and maintained a system that keeps LPNs in this position. Everywhere we look, the classification of LPNs is used as a barrier to recognition. It’s the mechanism that allows policymakers to deny fair compensation, despite the fact that LPNs shoulder responsibilities that rival, and often exceed, those of other nursing professionals across Canada.

And the data backs this up.

Even if we set aside the fact that five provinces (BC, SK, MB, NS, and PEI) that are currently in the middle of bargaining, with wage scales yet to be determined and existing data already outdated, Alberta’s LPN-RN wage gap still ranks second lowest in starting wages and only mid-range in top wages. This is despite Alberta’s LPNs carrying one of the most expansive scopes of practice in the country. The discrepancy is glaring and unacceptable.

That’s why LPNs For Change is back, stronger than ever.

Bargaining may be over, but our advocacy is not. We will continue to fight for LPNs to be recognized as nurses providing Direct Nursing Care, just as Alberta’s Finance Minister Nathan Horner himself acknowledged, and not as second-class professionals.

We will continue to shine a light on the inequities that keep us undervalued. And we will continue to demand that recognition reflect the reality of our expanded scope of practice.

Because this is not just about wages. It’s about respect, recognition, and justice.

LPNs deserve to be seen for the vital role we play in Alberta’s health care system. We are not going away. We are organized, we are resilient, and we are determined to break down the barriers that classification has built.

The bargaining table may be closed, but the movement for change is wide open.

LPNs For Change is here to keep pushing until every LPN is recognized, respected, and fairly compensated as the direct nursing care nurses we are.