EDMONTON – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees is makin’ more than hay for its members.

Employees of the Special Areas Board in southeastern Alberta today ratified a new two-year collective agreement that raises their wages by five per cent in the first year and four per cent in the second – and provides a major increase in the horse allowance paid to cowboys employed by the rural municipal area.

"This contract shows that no matter how unusual your work may seem to others, you can benefit from the representation of a good union," said AUPE President Dan MacLennan after mail-in ballots from the approximately 80 Special Areas Board employees were counted this morning.

The board is a large municipal area, covering approximately 2.1 million hectares in the area around the community of Hanna. The board provides municipal services including recreation and road maintenance in the area, as well as leasing public lands and maintaining five community pastures.

As well as its small group of range riders – cowboys who patrol the rangeland throughout the huge area – the board employs administrative support workers, accountants, agricultural officers, agrologists, cooks, land surveyors, equipment operators, farm workers, grazing supervisors and others represented by AUPE Local 012/013.

"This agreement brings these employees up to the provincial standard set in other AUPE agreements," said Union Representative Val Luvaha, who negotiated the contract. "It also includes special recognition for the expenses faced by people doing unusual jobs."

Luvaha said that in addition to the five and four per cent wage increases, the contract includes:

" An increase in the coverall allowance to $75 from $50. " An increase in the tool allowance to $200 from $100. " The extension of special leave provisions to step-children and step-parents. " Doubling of the horse allowance for the range riders to $200 from $100 in the first year, with a further increase to $250 in the second year of the agreement.

"The range riders have to supply their own horses," Luvaha explained. "This helps compensate them for the costs they incur doing their jobs."

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Val Luvaha, Union Representative, AUPE, 403- 531-8608 or 403-660-5905 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)

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