For immediate release: Sunday, May 16, 2004

LETHBRIDGE — Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees who work at the Edith Cavell Care Centre have overwhelmingly ratified a significantly improved 30-month collective agreement.

The agreement includes pay increases of more than six per cent over the life of the contract for auxiliary nursing care staff at the Lethbridge nursing home and pay increases of more than three per cent plus a $600 lump-sum payment for housekeeping, laundry and dietary staff, said AUPE Staff Negotiator Dale Perry.

Under the agreement, ratified Wednesday by members of AUPE Local 048/011, licensed practical nurses, personal care attendants and recreation aides will see their pay increase by three per cent retroactive to April 1, 2004, two per cent on July 1, 2005, and one per cent on Oct. 1, 2005.

Auxiliary nursing care employees also qualify for a $200 lump-sum signing bonus.

Housekeeping, laundry and dietary staff will see their wages increase by two per cent on July 1, 2005, and one per cent on Oct. 1, 2005, in addition to receiving the $600 lump-sum payment. Casual employees will receive a lump-sum payment of $200.

Other changes in the new agreement include significant improvements in contract language dealing with layoffs and recalls, probation periods for new employees, hours of work, grievance procedures, seniority, health benefits and annual vacations, Perry said.

The approximately 100 employees will now receive double-time overtime, Perry added, and the agreement includes no-contracting-out provisions.

In addition, new clauses in the agreement require employees assigned temporary duties at a higher classification to be paid the higher rate of pay, and mean that as of Jan. 1, 2005, employees will have the option of participating in a defined-benefits pension plan with matched employer contributions up to three per cent.

“This is a very good agreement for employees in this sector,” Perry said. “Obviously, the employees agreed, as the strength of their ratification vote demonstrated."

Perry said that AUPE agreed to the 30-month term for the agreement to help the employer synchronize the contract with the funding policies of the Chinook Health Region. The Lethbridge nursing home is operated by a Vancouver-area company — Chantelle Management Ltd. — for the Chinook Health Region.

Perry praised Chantelle for the positive tone of this round of negotiations. “This round of bargaining went much more smoothly than things have with this company in the past,” he explained.

“This is the result of a maturing relationship between AUPE and this employer that bodes well for future negotiations,” Perry concluded.

For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
Dale Perry, Union Representative, AUPE (Southern Alberta Regional Office, Lethbridge), 403-329-1294 or 403-308-4549 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)