Labour Relations Briefs DECEMBER 2 - MARCH 1, 2015
Local 040 Covenant Health GSS: Application for mediation
AUPE applied for mediation on Feb. 17 on behalf of Covenant Health’s GSS workers. A delay on a promised classification review and the employer’s wage offer of 0 per cent over three years led to the application. The bargaining committee hopes an independent third party will be able to recommend a settlement that is fair to everyone. AUPE represents over 500 General Support Services workers with Covenant Health, at sites across Alberta.
Local 040/012 Covenant Care Holy Cross Manor: Employees join AUPE
Eighty seniors care workers employed by Covenant Care Holy Cross Manor in Calgary voted to join AUPE on Dec. 23. The new members wanted the power of collective bargaining behind them, and join other Covenant Care employees from Villa Marie in Red Deer in negotiating a first contract with their employer.
Local 020
both during bargaining and during mediation, the bargaining committee was left with no choice but to file for binding arbitration with the Labour Relations Board. AUPE represents more than 1,500 employees of ATB Financial at branches across Alberta.
Local 071/012
Living Waters Catholic Schools: Arbitration award
After nearly three years without a contract, an arbitrator awarded a new contract to the more than 100 support and custodial staff employed by Living Waters Catholic Schools on Feb. 6. The four-year contract, retroactive to 2012, will give employees wage increases of two per cent for 2012, 2013, and 2014, and one per cent for 2015. The contract expires Aug. 2015. Living Waters school division spans a large area northwest of Edmonton, including Edson, Whitecourt, and Slave Lake.
Local 071/007
GPRC Fairview Campus: Tentative Agreement reached
With the help of a mediator, the bargaining committee and employer reached a tentative agreement in early March. At press time, no details were available but a ratification vote was scheduled to be held on March 24 and it was expected to pass. The mediator was called in after three days of face-to-face bargaining in January. At that point many items had been signed off, but the employer refused to move on monetary issues. AUPE represents approximately 60 support employees at Grande Prairie Regional College’s Fairview Campus.
Local 048/029, 030
ATB Financial: Application for arbitration
Green Acres Foundation: Employees join AUPE
The bargaining committee for all members at ATB Financial filed an application for arbitration after mediation failed to produce an agreement on Jan. 19. With the employer refusing to respond to the union’s wage proposals
Employees originally excluded from joining AUPE at Green Acres Foundation’s Picture Butte Piyami assisted living facility became members in early January. Although the Piyami site became unionized with AUPE in October, 13
24 DIRECT IMPACT
workers were originally excluded from the bargaining unit. They completed a vote on Jan. 8, and were then welcomed into the bargaining unit. AUPE continues to discuss unionization with the staff at Green Acres Foundation sites across southern Alberta. To date, the Picture Butte Piyami and Coaldale Sunny South Lodge sites have voted to join AUPE, and bargaining is underway for a collective agreement for the more than 100 workers.
Local 048/028
Revera Scenic Acres: Employees join AUPE
More than 100 nursing and support staff at Revera Scenic Acres in Calgary voted to join AUPE in a worksite vote on Jan. 8. Working conditions and compensation led to the organizing movement, and these concerns will now be dealt with in collective bargaining. The organizing period was highlighted by an accommodating and cooperative attitude from the employer, and AUPE is hopeful this will continue in bargaining.
Local 118/009 Strathcona County: Agreement reached
An agreement was reached between Strathcona County and its AUPErepresented employees after both parties ratified a mediator’s recommendations for settlement on Jan. 5. The three-year agreement, expiring Dec. 31, 2016, includes wage increases of three per cent in 2014 and 2.75 per cent in 2015 and 2016, as well as changes to the grievance procedure, language applicable to vacation payouts, and removal of “letters of expectations.” AUPE represents more than 180 staff of Strathcona County, which is located immediately east of Edmonton.
Local 057/010
Lamont HCC GSS: Application for mediation
Despite some progress in negotiations during two dates in December, the bargaining committee for the Lamont