For immediate release: Jan. 17, 2003

CALGARY – Members of Local 055 of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees at the Foothills Hospital and Alberta Children’s Hospital have voted to accept a mediator’s recommended terms of settlement for a new three-year collective agreement.

On-site voting took place Thursday and today at the two Calgary hospitals.

"Members had the opportunity to attend meetings about the mediator’s recommendations, get answers to their questions and vote for or against the recommended settlement," said AUPE President Dan MacLennan, who along with the bargaining team and staff negotiator attended meetings Monday and Tuesday at both sites.

AUPE represents about 2,800 employees at both hospitals – including general support staff at the children’s hospital and both general support and licensed practical nurses, nursing attendants and others at the Foothills.
The terms of settlement recommended by the mediator must now be accepted by the Calgary Health Region for the agreement to become a legally binding contract.

Highlights of the mediator’s recommendations included:

• Four-per-cent pay increase effective April 1, 2002, three-per-cent increase effective April 1, 2003 and a wage re-opener in the third year, for all classifications except housekeeping and dietary.
  
• Market adjustments for the clerical group and transcriptionists.
  
• Renewal of a letter of understanding regarding market adjustments for power plant operators.
  
• One-per-cent lump-sum payment for housekeeping and dietary classifications in each year of the three-year agreement.
  
• A guarantee of job security for housekeeping and dietary classifications to March 31, 2005 (no contracting out).
  
• Increase in overtime rates to double time for all hours.
  
• Increase in shift differential to $1.75 per hour.
  
• Increase in weekend premium to $1.40 per hour effective date of ratification, and a further increase to $1.75 effective June 1, 2003.
  
• Increase in on-call pay for auxiliary nursing staff to $2.25 and $3.25 per hour.
  
• Additional preceptor pay for licensed practical nurses of 65 cents per hour.
  Members of the local were provided with a complete written report on the mediator’s recommendations before the voting took place.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Karen Thibault, Union Representative, AUPE (Calgary Regional Office), 403-531-8600 or 403-816-7852 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)