For immediate release: Thursday, Dec. 9, 2000

Legal Aid Society employees ratify new collective agreement

EDMONTON — Alberta Union of Provincial Employees members who work for the Alberta Legal Aid Society have ratified a new three-year collective agreement containing significant improvements in pay and benefits.

The agreement gives all employees across-the-board pay increases of four per cent in the first year, effective April 1, 2004, 3.5 per cent in the second year, and contains provisions for wage reopener negotiations in the third year, said Staff Negotiator Karen Thibault.

In addition, the agreement includes classification adjustments of two per cent in addition to the across-the-board increase for Collections Officers and of an additional four per cent for Legal Aid officers.

The classification adjustments are effective April 1, 2005.

The agreement also includes provision for a 5.2-per-cent premium to be paid to casual employees in lieu of paid holidays, Thibault said.

Edmonton Legal Aid employees, members of Local 059/003, voted on the collective agreement on Dec. 7. Their Calgary colleagues, members of Local 059/005, voted today.

Approximately 55 employees of the society were eligible to vote.
In addition, said Thibault, the agreement included many significant improvements in benefits and contractual language, among them:

• Agreement by the employer to pay the fee for physicians’ reports if required by the employer for proof of illness.
  
• Addition of a definition of common-law spouse.
  
• Inclusion of a six-per cent premium for employees designated to perform the work of a position outside of the bargaining unit.
  
• Regular feedback for probationary employees will be given regular feedback regarding their performance during probation.
  
• Addition of one day’s paid mourning leave to attend funeral.
  
• Inclusion of compassionate care leave.
  
• Provision for recipients of maternity/adoption /compassionate care leave to continue with their health benefits provided they continue to pay their regular share of the premiums.
  
• Long-service increment entitlement after 10 years.
  
• Agreement that any increase in severance pay negotiated by the government of Alberta and AUPE for direct government employees will be reflected in this agreement.
  
• Agreement to provide employees with copies of any documents the employer intends to use as evidence in any grievance proceeding.
  
• Increased mileage rates to 37-cents per kilometer from 30 cents.
  
• Inclusion of business insurance rates of not less than $200 per year in the agreement.
  
• Inclusion of health benefits and general illness benefits for temporary employees after six months, instead of after one year.
  
  “ This was an excellent agreement, and the members were very pleased with the improvements,” Thibault said.
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  For more information, contact:
  Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
  Karen Thibault, Union Representative, AUPE (Calgary Regional Office), 403-531-8610 or 403-542-7791 (cellular phone)
  David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)
  
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