Changes to the Public Service Employee Relations Act and to essential services legislation are proposed in Bill 21: the Ensuring Fiscal Sustainability Act, 2019.

Regulations

The Labour Relations Code covers most employers and unions, including health care and construction. Regulations supplement this legislation, including:

Labour relations acts

The following acts govern labour relations for specific groups.

  • Public Service Employee Relations Act covers the bargaining relationships for:
    • provincial government as an employer
    • civil service
    • Alberta Public Service
    • provincial agencies, boards and commissions
    • post-secondary support staff
  • Burial of the Dead Act allows the Alberta government to ensure continued service in the event of a strike or lockout that could affect the burial of persons.

Essential services

Essential services are public services if interrupted would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the public. These services are also necessary to the maintenance and administration of the rule of law and public security.

Essential services include:

  • Provincial public service
  • provincial agencies, boards and commissions
  • public health care, including ground ambulance
  • continuing care, medical laboratories and blood services
  • post-secondary faculty and support staff

Legislation

Essential services legislation allows strikes and lockouts by public sector workers, while still requiring ‘essential’ public services to be available to the general public during labour disputes.

Resources

Contact

To connect with Mediation Services:

Phone: 780-427-8301
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)

Related

Farms and Ranches

Labour Relations Code

Public Service Employee Relations Act

Alberta Labour Relations Board