EDMONTON – Twenty children or dependents of members of Local 12 of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees will receive a $500 scholarship to help with their post-secondary education again this year.

The bursary program run by the AUPE local – which represents government technical and support workers such as meat inspectors, technologists and gardeners – is now in its third year, said Local 12 Treasurer and educational scholarship committee chair Rick Kowalik.

"We’re very proud of this program," Kowalik said. "It’s been a tremendous benefit to some of our members and has had strong support from throughout the local.

"It’s a good example of how union members are willing to pitch in for the benefit of their colleagues," he said.

AUPE President Dan MacLennan called the program one of the many ways AUPE goes beyond providing the obvious benefits of union membership.

"Yes, we work hard to negotiate good wages, fair working conditions, benefits and job security," MacLennan said. "But we also try hard to make AUPE an organization that brings other important benefits to our members’ lives.

"The members of Local 12 should be congratulated for their generosity and hard work in making this program such a success," he said.

Applications on behalf of children under 25 or the spouses of any age of Local 12 members must be submitted by mail by July 15, 2002. An application form can be downloaded from Local 12’s Web site – www.telusplanet.net/public/local12/.

To qualify, students must be enrolled full time in a degree or diploma program at an accredited post-secondary institution.

The 20 winners will be selected based on a combination of personal financial needs, their grade on an essay written by each applicant and other factors, Kowalik said.

Glen Buchan of the Alberta Teachers Association will mark the essays again this year, he added.
The three best essays will be published on AUPE’s Web site.

Bursaries for members of children are also offered by AUPE Local 20, which represents employees of ATB Financial.

In addition, AUPE’s Members Benefits Committee awards bursaries, in sums of $500 and $600, to the children of AUPE members.

For more information, contact:
Rick Kowalik, Treasurer, AUPE Local 12, 780-975-3119
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)

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