In the coming months, over 200,000 public sector workers in Alberta will begin bargaining with their employers for new contracts. The most recent agreements expired in March and, after many years of high inflation and few wage increases, workers will be looking for raises.

The largest unions have already begun bargaining and others will join later this spring, with negotiations expected to come to a head in the fall.

These negotiations will involve workers in almost every public service Albertans rely on, such as health care and education. Also covered in negotiations are post-secondary education and the core provincial civil service, including public sector workers who are employed by the government and those employed by various agencies, boards and commissions.

The one thing every one of these negotiations will have in common is the provincial government calling the shots for the employer. As a result, it is expected that bargaining at all of the tables will be tense — and with real prospects for labour disruption.