After many requests from Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs), UNA has made a number of applications to the Alberta Labour Relations Board seeking to bring LPNs into the same bargaining units as Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses. UNA has decided to take this significant step with the support of UNA Locals and members.
UNA has made the applications for determination for the LPNs at Extendicare Holyrood, Good Samaritan Centre Millwoods, Millwoods Shepherds Care, Red Deer Nursing Home, and Mannville Health Centre. If the Labour Relations Board accepts the applications, UNA will represent these LPNs and would negotiate salary and collective agreements for the LPNs.
The LPNs would have not exactly the same contract as RNs, or exactly the same wages. Like most collective agreements, UNA’s contracts include different classifications for different nursing roles. But once in the same bargaining unit, LPNs, RNs and RPNs would all be bargaining together.
“All across this province LPNs and RNs work closely side-by-side doing very similar work. Yet we are forced to bargain our contracts separately, and get very different terms and provisions. It is time to recognize the united role nurses play in providing care to Albertans” says Heather Smith.
Over twenty years ago the Alberta Labour Relations Board set four functional bargaining units in the province's health sector. In 2001, Bill 27 set those units in law. The four bargaining units that health employees are unionized in are:
Direct Nursing Care or Nursing Instruction Auxiliary Nursing Care Paramedical Professional or Technical Services General Support Services
The Auxiliary group historically has included LPNs, registered nursing assistants, nursing aides and orderlies.
“LPNs and RNs share a significant number of skills. They are recognized professional nurses, able to practice independantly. We believe they should be in the same bargaining unit as RN's and RPN's. Many LPNs are asking about joining our union, so we are asking the Alberta Labour Relations Board to make a ruling,” says UNA Director of Labour Relations David Harrigan.
The key legal element in the determination on whether LPNs and RNs should be in the same bargaining unit is the actual work they do, David Harrigan says.
“The basis of these unit descriptions is job function. The Board’s assignment of an employee to a bargaining unit depends on the person’s actual function, not upon occupational title.” – LRB Information Bulletin #10
“This makes it clear that legally the LPNs and RNs should be in the same bargaining unit in direct nursing care,” he says.
The increasing scope of practise of LPNs makes the nature of their work far closer to that of RNs than of the other employees in the auxiliary nursing category.
Changing nursing practise of LPNs
The Licensed Practical Nurse title was created in 1989. Before that they were called Registered Nursing Assistants, and even earlier Nursing Aides. Over time the qualification requirement for LPNs has increased significantly. In 1995, the mandatory qualification for registration included courses in Physical Assessment, Medication Administration and Infusion Therapy.
At one time nursing aides really did work in an auxiliary capacity. In recent years, the roles of LPNs and RNs have become increasingly similar, with LPNs undertaking many of the direct nursing tasks that were previously only performed by RNs, such as administering medications.
The scope of practise for LPNs is regulated under a professional body and by the Health Professions Act, just as are Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses.
“We're trying to recognize that LPNs have an increased scope of practise. Let's face reality. The days when LPNs were assistants to nurses are no longer here. They are fully autonomous professionals,” notes David Harrigan.
LPNs who are performing many of the same functions as RNs are questioning the level of disparity and valuation of LPNs’ work and the lower salaries. Many RNs and LPNs believe the LRB ruling that keeps the two groups who work side by side in very similar jobs, in separate bargaining units is no longer appropriate.
In Manitoba and Nova Scotia RNs and LPNs are largely in the same union. UNA also does represent LPNs with some long-term care employers. |
