Workers Struggles: The Americas Strike looms as Alberta government demands wage “roll-back” for provincial nurses The Alberta Health Service (AHS) has demanded that the 30,000 provincial nurses accept a 3 percent cut in wages, the elimination of scheduled lump sum payments and reduced shift and weekend premiums in contract negotiations currently underway. The cuts would amount to more than a 5 percent reduction in compensation for the members of the Alberta Nurses Union. The move is an additional provocation against the nurses. Only last March, the AHS—an arm of the right-wing United Conservative government of Premier Jason Kenney—had demanded a four-year wage freeze.