For immediate release: Thursday, May 22, 2003

HINTON – Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees who work at the Yellowhead Emergency Shelter for Women have ratified a new two-year collective agreement.

The 13 AUPE members who work at the facility in Hinton ratified the agreement May 20. Their employer, the Yellowhead Emergency Shelter for Women Society, ratified the agreement the same day.

The collective agreement gives crisis workers and child care workers employed at the shelter a wage increase of $1.50 per hour in the first year and $1.00 per hour in the second year.

That works out to percentage pay increases of 9.26 per cent in the first year and 5.35 per cent in the second year for crisis workers and 9.79 per cent in the first year and 5.6 per cent in the second year for child care workers, said AUPE Staff Negotiator Maria Marrazzo.

The agreement also included a long-service bonus of $500 for employees who work more than 12 years at the shelter and retirement savings plan contributions for employees, Marrazzo said.

The agreement includes establishment of an education fund that will provide $400 this year for training for each permanent full-time employee, plus pro-rated education contributions for permanent part-time employees, she said.

Other changes include improvements in contract language pertaining to seniority, occupational health and safety, workers compensation for casual employees and time off between shifts, Marrazzo said.

The agreement takes effect on July 1, 2003.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, 780-930-3301 or 780-910-8392 (cellular phone)
Maria Marrazzo, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930-3348 or 780-914-2820 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)