For immediate release: Mar. 28, 2003

EDMONTON – Despite the efforts of a mediator, negotiations between the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and the Continuing Care Employers Bargaining Association have reached an impasse with the receipt of a very disappointing final offer from the employers’ group.

"Members of the bargaining committee were insulted by the employer’s final offer," AUPE President Dan MacLennan said today.

The approximately 1,000 AUPE members covered by the agreement will have the opportunity to vote on the terms of the employer group’s final offer, said AUPE Staff Negotiator Terry Agoto.

MacLennan said CCEBA continues to seek a collective agreement that contains less than AUPE members under the Multi-Facility Auxiliary Nursing Agreement. "Our members feel their work is less valued by these employers than the work of other AUPE members doing the same work in Alberta health facilities," MacLennan said.

The CCEBA offer would include 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 the final offer does not include other items negotiated by AUPE in the Multi-Facility Agreement, such as educational allowance, severance and team leader pay. It also seeks concessions in such areas the hours allowed between shifts, eligibility for differential pay and special leave.

As a result, a gap would open between the terms of the collective agreement ratified by AUPE members doing the same work under the Multi-Facility Auxiliary Nursing Agreement and the CCEBA final offer, MacLennan noted. "AUPE believes these two agreements should be the same in all significant respects."

The impasse came after several days in February and March during which a provincially appointed mediator attempted to help the sides reach an agreement.

But despite the fact the same mediator had issued a report during the negotiations for the multi-facility agreement, and a request by AUPE for a report in this round of bargaining, the mediator said he could not write a recommendation for settlement.

At that point the employer group tabled its final offer.

Agoto said membership meetings have been scheduled at which members will have the opportunity to get answers to their questions and express their opinions of the offer.
Meetings will take place at the following times and locations:

n Edmonton – 1 to 3 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Centre, 11834 Kingsway Ave.

n Lethbridge – 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 8, at the AUPE Southern Regional Office, 1921 Mayor Magrath Drive South.

n Calgary – 1:30 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 9, location to be announced.

Voting on acceptance or rejection of this offer will take place on April 10 at AUPE members’ worksites.
There 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 Heath Centre (Lethbridge).

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)
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AUPE CCEBA Bargaining Committee
Elda Glover – Capital Care Lynwood (780) 481-9178
Gwen Williams – St. Michael’s Edmonton (780) 472-8318
Terri Hannley – Capital Care Norwood (780) 973-5661
Liberty Pestano – Capital Care Grandview (780) 463-2387
Shelley Brooker – Bethany Care Calgary (403) 241-2962
Pat Young – St. Michael's Lethbridge (403) 327-5046
Phyllis Doyle – St. Joesph’s Edmonton (780) 439-7291
Loretta Gendron – MSO, AUPE 1-800-232-7284 Press 8 (403) 329-1210
Terry Agoto – Staff Negotiator, AUPE 1-800-232-7284, press 1
(780) 930-3309