EDMONTON – Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees working at continuing care facilities run by the Good Samaritan Society in Edmonton have overwhelmingly ratified a three-year collective agreement including raises of 5 to 10 per cent in the first year for most employees.
"This is an important agreement because this large employer has recognized that its continuing care employees should be paid the same rate as others doing the same or similar work at publicly run health care facilities in Alberta," said AUPE President Dan MacLennan.

Jim Petrie, the AUPE Union representative who negotiated the contract on behalf of approximately 550 members of AUPE Local 58, Chapters 15, 16, 20 and 21 and Local 2424 at the Zetter Centre, said all licenced practical nurses employed by the society will receive a 10 per cent raise in the first year of the agreement.

All nursing auxiliaries, occupational therapists, recreational therapists and physical therapy aides under the agreement will receive raises of 8.5 per cent in the first year, Petrie said, while the Good Sam Society’s support group will receive a five-per-cent across-the-board increase in the first year.

"In years two and three, wages of these employees are also tied to rates negotiated in AUPE’s multi-facility and provincial community support agreements," Petrie said.

"This is good news for both the employees, who are now being paid the same rate as others doing the same work at public facilities in Alberta, and for the employer, which will have fewer problems than before recruiting and retaining both new and experienced staff," Petrie said.

Petrie said the new contract also includes increases in shift and weekend differential pay as well as the hours for which those rates are paid.

Other improvements include increases in transportation allowances, more flexibility in contract language and improvements in sick and bereavement leave, he added.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cell phone)
Jim Petrie, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930- 3335 or 780-919-4415 (cell phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cell phone)

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