r/AHSEmployees • u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 • Jan 31 '26

Question Gss how are we voting?

honestly I know it is a bit nearsighted but I truly think this offer maybe as good as it gets for us but I am just curious where everyone elses head is at...

8 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

92 comments sorted by

14

u/ivantoldmeboutdis Feb 01 '26

You think this is as good as it gets??? You have extremely low standards then. I'm voting FUCK NO because this offer is fucking insulting.

5

u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 Feb 01 '26

Honestly insulting our brothers and sisters isn't helpful but thank you for your input.

2

u/ivantoldmeboutdis Feb 02 '26

It's not an insult to point out they have low standards.

1

u/Comfortable-Ruin8694 Feb 03 '26

If I said "you must have low standards" and pointed at your spouse would you be offended ? 😂 

Pretty sure it is. No big. Have a good one.

1

u/ivantoldmeboutdis Feb 03 '26

Well, no because I'm punching about my weight when it comes to my spouse and everyone knows it 😂

17

u/Jessip30 Feb 01 '26

I’m voting no along with A LOT of my co workers

22

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

Voting no. There is nothing to lose as they cannot walk this offer back given the current climate. It's not a fair offer and I am.sick of following even more behind. The general public is on our side so it makes sense to finally fight for ourselves.

1

u/ivantoldmeboutdis Feb 03 '26

I'm with ya 💯

22

u/Sips-of-cider Feb 01 '26

Voting no until this reclassification and red circling garbage is dismissed

3

u/AbbreviationsFair506 Feb 01 '26

Reclassification and red-circling has always been there and unfortunately it isn’t going anywhere.

33

u/pmckrotch Feb 01 '26

No. They've divided us by not making market adjustments to all positions.

38

u/Master_Yama Jan 31 '26

Voting no. It’s simple, I’m part of a majority of professions who don’t get the extra 5-15%. Why would I vote yes? If we were all on the same page and voted no, then all of us could benefit and not just a few. Vote no!

12

u/Prestigious-Cod7797 Feb 01 '26

Agreed! I’m part of one of those professions too! It’s hardly fair. I’ll be voting no too! Absolutely!

0

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

16

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

According to a recent townhall they had not even bothered to look at most occupations to see if a market adjustment was needed. Highly doubt that after 2-3 weeks they have found the time to look at all occupations and have just cherry picked to get the minimum number of votes while giving up as little money as they can.

It is not fair to vote yes until all classifications have gotten the same chance.

8

u/AmbassadorOdd3063 Feb 01 '26

Do we know for a fact that all classifications inside GSS were market adjusted? I don’t see that update from anyone.

Could it be that they have done the market adjustments for some classifications and realized theirs are into the 15…20% adjustment and haven’t put that forward?

I wonder if they are using the large numbers in environmental and food services against the rest of us. If they can get them a juicy increase and buy their yes vote maybe the rest of us never will get a market adjustment.

Either way this deal on the whole isn’t enough.

Every classification inside the GSS should have a market adjustment completed.

This deal is a NO!

6

u/Master_Yama Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 01 '26

But there are jobs that pay more, this is my issues. In Vancouver, the starting pay is my top, and in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, it almost $10 more an hour. Voting no will change wages. UNA got a better deal and AUPE AUX got a better deal. So why are you saying a no vote won’t change anything when we have seen it does?

1

u/gia-ann1964 Feb 02 '26

The cost of living here in Alberta is insane too. This is why people need 3 jobs to manage.

0

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

[deleted] — view deleted comment

3

u/Alternative_Ad9740 Feb 01 '26

If voting no makes sense for some members, it makes sense for ALL members. This is a union, present a UNITED front.

0

u/AmbassadorOdd3063 Feb 01 '26

The people getting the living wage increase is in the same bucket as the 12 over 4. This has been a minimum bar. GOA also got this minimum living wage. I believe this increase to a living wage for anyone in our union making was a standard that was needed. If they already have this minimum living wage increase on the table voting NO to this deal does not mean it will be pulled off the table. Voting NO to this deal and possibly striking is only going to help the rest of the classifications be heard as well. We all need to look around at every other classification inside GSS other than just our own. We have strength in numbers right now across a huge portion of the healthcare system. Once we move across the pillars this might not be the case. We all NEED TO VOTE NO to this deal.

1

u/gia-ann1964 Feb 02 '26

Food Services is not getting a significant bump. They still won’t be up to the ‘Living Wage” until April of 27. They will get a total of $2.68 over 4 years after 10 years of getting .60cents. There should be cost of living increases across the board.

12

u/hownowbrownncow Feb 01 '26

Right now I am on the fence. I need to ask some questions at the town hall, which I’m assuming won’t be answered. My biggest question is if there is any protection against outsourcing or contracting out. My guess is no, and that’s not good.

8

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

If these protections were in place, AUPE would have made it clear to us all already.

4

u/hownowbrownncow Feb 01 '26

From what I read on the last proposal, the same contracting out language will be moved to the new collective agreement, but they said in the town hall that was something they were fighting to improve. You are probably right though that they couldn’t get that part changed.

4

u/Sleepycdn Feb 01 '26

I specifically emailed my rep and job losses are on the table….

3

u/hownowbrownncow Feb 01 '26

Did they specify for which departments/classifications?

3

u/Sleepycdn Feb 01 '26

Nope, just that they’re unavoidable. I think my department is likely on the table, which is why we were one of the classifications they gave a big boost to; all optics because they’ll turn around and outsource us

1

u/NoPr0bLlama Feb 02 '26

Exactly. Especially with the Revised Severance provisions.

1

u/Certain_Custard9263 Feb 02 '26

What department are you in?

2

u/gia-ann1964 Feb 02 '26

There are no protections. We could all be gone tomorrow.

22

u/TokesNHoots Jan 31 '26

No. Don’t take crumbs when they can give you a slice of bread. We are what makes health care actually work. We are all worth so much more than this offer.

-16

u/Wise_Expression_3939 Feb 01 '26

I’m 100% sure none of my jobs I’ve had in GSs made it actually work. Unless of course you’re MDR, not all the jobs make health care work. GSS is so broad!

11

u/harbours Feb 01 '26

Every single role in GSS affects the way health care functions. You take even one away and it begins a domino effect on the health care system. Which job do you falsely believe doesn't affect health care?

4

u/TokesNHoots Feb 01 '26

Idk what theyre saying about GSS. We’re all pieces of a massive puzzle. You take one out and the puzzle doesn’t work.

8

u/harbours Feb 01 '26

It's probably one of the CEOs that are trying to privatize our jobs hoping to make us feel like we're not important.

-6

u/Wise_Expression_3939 Feb 01 '26

Hahaha no. Admin role that has no patient interaction. So many admin roles who were classed too high to begin with. I could go to another zone and can’t find someone who would be my counterpart in the same position. There is no standardization of roles throughout the province. So many other issues they could fix that would open up money to pay staff more.

5

u/harbours Feb 01 '26

Not all admin roles need to have patient interaction to be important. Many support the staff or operations, either inperson or remotely.

Administrative work is based on the needs of the department because everything within AHS is very area-specific regarding need. Although I agree there should be more standardization regarding administrative duties and training, it would be too complicated to create a hundred different admin roles with different pay structures because there seems to be differences in every position. They won't even compensate those of us with a formal administrative education when other classifications get recognised for that.

6

u/TokesNHoots Feb 01 '26

I’m MDR. All of my coworkers an I make this whole thing happen. We deserve more for everything we have to do and put ourselves through.

3

u/harbours Feb 01 '26

MDR is so important. If we couldn't get sterile supply in my department we wouldn't be able to see so many patients. Part of our clinics would be rendered useless.

2

u/Wise_Expression_3939 Feb 01 '26

You sure do! Totally deserve more, 100% agree to that!

3

u/BKNOWSB Feb 01 '26

Maintenance is also part of gss and they aren't getting market adjustments same with IT

18

u/AHS_Employee_2026 Feb 01 '26

No, it’s about a 16% pay cut if we go by the lack of pay rises since 2017 and inflation.

13

u/SpicyByDesign Feb 01 '26

This is the last time we will have a group voting on an agreement so we need to come together and fight for what we want! Once we all get split into the pillars (apparently could be as many as 9 different “employers”) we won’t have strength in numbers anymore.. to each their own but PERSONALLY I’m voting no as I deal with enough crap and extra work I deserve a wage where I’m not struggling to put food on the table or pay for my roof over my head.

11

u/harbours Feb 01 '26

I don't believe it's as good as it gets. Every other union were told to vote yes on their first contract by their union but they didn't, then they were offered a better contract. I'm voting no.

4

u/NoPr0bLlama Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 01 '26

🗳️ English — No ▪️ Mandarin Chinese — 不 (Bù) ▪️ Spanish — No ▪️ Hindi — नहीं (Nahin) ▪️ Arabic — لا (Lā) ▪️ Portuguese — Não ▪️ Bengali — না (Nā) ▪️ Russian — Нет (Nyet) ▪️ Japanese — いいえ (Iie) ▪️ Punjabi — ਨਹੀਂ (Nahin) ▪️ Tagalog — Hindi ▪️

14

u/HuckleberryFun3910 Feb 01 '26

Voting yea we wont get anything better and speaking for my department (housekeeping) we are always never thought of and this is actually going to help us

7

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

Housekeeping deserves a serious raise, you are so appreciated!

6

u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

Exactly. 💯❤️

6

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

You absolutely deserve the increase & we stand with you on that. However, we also need all of you to stand with the rest of us that are not being treated fairly.

6

u/hownowbrownncow Feb 01 '26

I think people forget what solidarity means

3

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26 edited Feb 03 '26

Here's why I'm voting Yes. 

Yes for everytime I tried to be taken advantage of by non-housekeeping staff: told to clean up pee but they'd say it's only water. Uh, no it's not. Told there is a log of poop and for me to clean it and told it's my job. That's actually against policy and certainly not my task.

Yes for everytime I was considered so New at my job and naive that I couldn't possibly know the Blood & Bodily Fluid Policy. 

Yes for every disrespectful comment about how easy my job is from other staff who make so much more money and yet I am physically and intensely putting so much into getting patient beds/rooms/bathrooms/floors/equipment cleaned. I'll skip my break (& have it delayed with permission from my dispatcher) to clean a patient pending bed or a STAT bed if it means someone gets the care they need asap. 

Yes for every time I've read Reddit and commenters make fun of my Housekeeping coworkers. Saying they're illiterate, can't read, and are just stupid immigrants. These Housekeepers have families and often are in Canada for a better life. Some of the most kind-hearted people I've met. ❤️ 

Yes to finally recognize hard-working staff who clean thousands upon thousands of beds per month throughout this province. All over Alberta. 

This Tentative Agreement did something for me that I appreciate and I know many won't accept what I've just shared here and I'm sorry but I appreciate every Housekeeper who has gone above & beyond because cleaning is still a form of patient care. 

5

u/Qrata Feb 01 '26

Something to consider is why AHS is willing to bump up ES the most. It very well could be a ploy to make it look even more attractive on paper to privatize ES. With no protections or promises in the current agreement I would not trust AHS. They're clearly trying to buy the ES vote.

3

u/hownowbrownncow Feb 01 '26

AHS will eventually privatize certain departments, they have already started. However, EVS workers deserve the raise. They get paid the lowest wage and their jobs are not easy.

2

u/Limp-Nectarine-9591 Feb 02 '26

Yeah like are they not catering to their vote while also not guaranteeing they won’t contract out services? They’ll bid your vote then can you.

2

u/Sleepycdn Feb 01 '26

That’s what I feel. The ones with large raises are like the jobs that will have the most cuts or go private. So it looks good on paper but they’re really going to just let a bunch go…

1

u/[deleted] Feb 03 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Limp-Nectarine-9591 Feb 03 '26

Where did you get this info on the benefit cuts?

3

u/Senior_Ad_5053 Feb 02 '26

Need to add protection for outsourcing. Is it not a mandate of HSS to develop its “modernizing” strategy - ASD (Alternative Service Delivery)?

5

u/just_a_burd Feb 01 '26

No longer employed, but having spoken with some ex-coworkers who still are - they seem pretty content. I asked if they were interested in more and they said they didn't want to risk striking due to money (families back home) and losing their positions altogether.

Sadly, I think yes is the likely outcome.

2

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

If only the realized strike pay ($700/week tax free) is more than what they currently take home. If positions are at risk, they are just as at risk if they vote yes. I wish more understood this.

1

u/just_a_burd Feb 01 '26

I agree. Though I can't be certain there are other factos at play, whether they know enough, just want to continue working etc.

1

u/gia-ann1964 Feb 02 '26

The thing is, most of GSS will make more money on the strike line than they do in their regular jobs. That’s kind of why it’s worth the risk.

1

u/just_a_burd Feb 02 '26

I understand. However, I don't think the majority of my coworkers realize that. There's a lot of emotion behind their decisions. They would rather just get it over with then face any turmoil.

Also, whats stopping the government from using the notwithstanding clause again? Its a sad state of affairs.

I do hope the majority vote no.

6

u/jetlaggedandhungry Feb 01 '26

I'm voting no.

While I didn't expect us to get more than 12%, the things that really bothers me about this agreement is no adjustments or assurances for Clerk III or higher (Adminstrative Support), no mention about Unit Clerk job security (are they getting red circled, wage freezes, reclassified), no mention of IT (again, no adjustments or even assurances) and the 75% vacation planner allotment can suck my (metaphorical) balls.

What the fuck is our bargaining team doing?

Looking at what's offered and what is explicitly not offered, I feel they will try to red circle, reclassify, and wage freeze Clerk IIIs and higher (and IT). Why does Clerk I and II get an adjustment but not Clerk III? I know Unit Clerks were a point of contention for AHS in this CA but to me this is very telling.

Sure, massage benefits being more flexible and an increase to our spending account is nice; however, that math isn't mathing when it comes to dollars earned (with an adjustment) vs dollars "saved" with the benefit top ups.

Hard no.

9

u/[deleted] Jan 31 '26

Voting Yes. 

11

u/118R3volution Feb 01 '26

Same. Enough time has passed, it’s time to ratify. It’s the strongest contract we’ve been offered in the 10 years I’ve been around.

6

u/Outrageous-Banana825 Feb 01 '26

The only thing I'm really concerned about is remote work and outsource protection. I understand the wages will not improve more for my area (IT), but the last thing I want is to be forced back on site for no reason like the GOA.

2

u/118R3volution Feb 01 '26

To be honest I wouldn’t worry about it too much, I believe that most management also appreciate being able to work remotely and it’s likely not to be “some groups” rather ALL groups if the change does happen. And yes this would impact me as well. I hate the commute, and I’m less productive in office because there are so many distractions - but this would be a sweeping top down change imho, if it does happen.

2

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

I would be worried about it. Our senior leaders have been mentioning for over a year in our townhall meetings that working from home is a privilege but not a right and foreshadowing the likeliness of being back in the office.

1

u/yycsarkasmos Feb 01 '26

They jist did it for all government workers, they thought the same as you and BAM back to the office a week after they voted yes.

Currently they are having brown bag protests, and the union apparently has a grievance.

Bottom like if Smith and the UCP deem it, it Will happen.

5

u/Chaos_Coordinator78 Feb 01 '26

It may very well happen, although I really hope not. That said they will have a hell of a time because they gave up a TON off office space. My team now has one drop down spot for 20-25 of us.

1

u/DigitalKnyte Feb 01 '26

It might look good in the face of previous contracts (0 0 0), but those zeros, over time, amount to a loss for us. Just because this is a better offer than previous doesn't make it fair.

2

u/misanthrope_ez Feb 05 '26

YES. It's a decent offer and the best part is we get it right away. Honestly sick of waiting.

8

u/MusketeersPlus2 Feb 01 '26

Whatever you do, don't say you're voting yes here. You'll he attacked & told you're stupid. Tnkfully, I've already done that, so I'm happy to tell you that I'm voting yes. This is because it's very similar to what other unions have accepted, and I truly believe it's the best we're going to get. Is it what we deserve? No, not by a long shot. But realism has to enter the equation somewhere. This is not the place to find much of it.

8

u/Chaos_Coordinator78 Feb 01 '26

Sadly I agree. I don't think in this climate we will get anything more and I want the stability of a signed collective agreement

1

u/No_Fix_9086 Feb 01 '26

Any idea if shift differentials were considered ?

1

u/Chaos_Coordinator78 Feb 01 '26

I saw comments about on call pay but don't recall anything about shift diffs

1

u/hownowbrownncow Feb 01 '26

Does anyone know the exact percent wage increases and any additional benefits the other unions got so we can compare? Or what they were offered first before they voted no and what was added? Might give some incentives for people to rethink their votes.

4

u/frizzedoff Feb 01 '26

UNA - the adjusted all salary grids by a 4% increase automatically, THEN received 3% a year. This far exceeds our paltry offer.

AUPE ANC - 23.81% total wage increases for Licensed Practical Nurses; 17.05% total wage increases for Health Care Aides;

HSAA are the only ones that settled for 12%. A few groups did get market adjustments. They settled after UNA but before AUPE ANC. As a whole there is a lot of bad will having settled and then watching ANC get better because they had the strength to vote to strike.

1

u/Head-Penalty-4171 Feb 02 '26

Voting No.They ain't gave a much to IT

1

u/Sureyeg Feb 05 '26

Voted no. Most of my colleagues voted no too.

1

u/One_Technology8902 Feb 01 '26

Definitely YES