For immediate release: Apr. 11, 2003

EDMONTON – Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees have voted overwhelmingly to reject a "final offer" put forward in late March by the Continuing Care Employers Bargaining Association.

The situation affects approximately 1,350 health care workers at continuing-care facilities in Edmonton, Calgary and Lethbridge.

"We hope our members’ clear rejection of this very inadequate proposal by this employer group will get them back to the bargaining table," AUPE President Dan MacLennan said today.

"Members of the union bargaining committee were insulted by this so-called final offer, and we urge this employer group to get back to the table with a mandate to treat our members fairly," MacLennan said.

"Our members expect a collective agreement that is the same in all significant respects as that negotiated by our members who come under the Multi-Facility Auxiliary Nursing Agreement receive," he added. "They do the same work in the same kinds of facilities. There is no reason they should be treated differently."

Despite the efforts of a provincially appointed mediator, negotiations between AUPE and the CCEBA reached an impasse on March 28. Nevertheless, AUPE gave the members covered by the agreement the opportunity to vote on the offer.

AUPE held information meetings in each city at which members could ask questions and express their views.
CCEBA’s offer included pay increases of four per cent and three per cent in each year of a two-year agreement, plus increases in shift and weekend differential pay, but it did not include other very important items negotiated by AUPE in the Multi-Facility Agreement, said Union Representative Terry Agoto.

These include educational allowance, severance and team leader pay, Agoto said. He noted that the employer group is also seeking concessions in such areas the hours allowed between shifts, eligibility for differential pay and special leave.

Voting took place Thursday at AUPE members’ worksites.

The employees are licensed practical nurses, personal care attendants, nursing attendants, physiotherapy attendants, recreation attendants, occupational therapy attendants and clinic attendants who come under the CCEBA agreement.

Their employers include the Capital Care Group, which is a subsidiary of the Capital Health Region, St. Joseph’s Auxiliary Hospital (Edmonton), St. Michael’s Long Term Care Centre (Edmonton), Bethany Care Society (Calgary), and St. Michael’s Health Centre (Lethbridge).

AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, with approximately 53,000 members.


For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Terry Agoto, Staff Negotiator, AUPE, 780-930 3309 or 780-720-2226 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)