For immediate release: Apr. 19, 2003

EDMONTON – Members of a new chapter of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees who work at the Salvation Army Grace Manor have overwhelmingly ratified a first collective agreement with their employer.

"It's really great to see members who have organized a union in their workplace for the first time achieve a good solid agreement with strong contract language like this one," said AUPE President Dan MacLennan.

Members of AUPE Local 047 Chapter 020 voted late Thursday to accept the agreement, which contains pay increases for all of the Edmonton long-term care facility's more than 80 employees, plus significant improvements in working conditions from their previous non-union relationship, said AUPE Union Representative Wayne Trimble.

"Everyone will get a pay increase of six to eight per cent in the first year, and three per cent in the next year," said Trimble, who negotiated the agreement.

The collective agreement, which will run until Sept. 30, 2005, also gives employees of the 100-bed facility a grievance procedure for the first time, severance provisions in the event of job loss, an education allowance, and shorter times for employees to qualify for increases on the pay grid.

Each employee will also receive a signing bonus of $200, Trimble said.

Chapter Chair Sherry Macklin said the new members are very pleased with the work done by AUPE.
"When we decided we needed a union, we researched all the different unions out there and talked to the people from AUPE," Macklin said. "We felt it was the best union out there."

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Wayne Trimble, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-672-8877 (AUPE Camrose Regional Office) or 780-679-5734 (cellular phone)
Sherry Macklin, Chair, AUPE Local 047/020, 780-452-8387
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)