For immediate release: Monday, June 21, 2004

EDMONTON — The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees has asked for an end to mediation and will apply to hold a strike vote as quickly as possible as negotiations with a private Edmonton long-term-care facility have reached an impasse.

The provincially appointed mediator, Bertha Greenstein, today advised AUPE and Venta Care Centre Ltd. that “after three days of mediation and over 12 days of negotiations, I believe the parties are still too far apart on the issues in dispute for me to issue a recommendation that would be acceptable to all.”

After a “cooling off” period of 14 days, a strike vote can be conducted. If the members support taking legal job action, and after giving 72 hours’ strike notice, employees can legally commence strike action at the north Edmonton facility.

AUPE will apply to the Alberta Labour Relations Board to hold a strike vote for the approximately 60 members of AUPE Local 047/022 at the earliest possible date, said Staff Negotiator Terry Agoto.

AUPE President Dan MacLennan said the decision to hold a strike vote is “a very serious step that is not taken lightly.”

However, MacLennan said, “so far, this employer has clearly not been interested in making the effort to reach a fair tentative agreement. The time has come for Venta management to get down to business and negotiate a fair deal.

“AUPE is prepared to do what it takes for this group of front-line workers who have been more than patient with the pace of bargaining to date,” he said.

AUPE and Venta remain far apart on such key issues as hours of work, shift and weekend differential premiums, salaries and the term of the agreement, Agoto said.

Negotiations began in September 2003 after Venta employees had voted the previous June to cease being members of the Christian Labour Association of Canada and join AUPE.

Progress had been made at the bargaining table on several important non-monetary matters, Agoto said, but even the assistance of the mediator was not able to end the impasse on major monetary issues.

During the negotiations, AUPE has been forced to go to arbitration and court to reinstate 11 employees who were terminated by the employer.

A provincial arbitrator’s ruling fully supported AUPE’s contention that the terminations were the result of the employees’ refusal to ratify a CLAC agreement in the spring of 2003, and their subsequent vote in favour of moving to AUPE.

“Now is the time for this employer to get on with bargaining in good faith and reach a fair agreement with this group of employees,” Agoto said.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
Terry Agoto, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930-3309 or 780-720-2226 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)