Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003

EDMONTON — Information pickets held by direct employees of the provincial government throughout Alberta last week highlighted the need for the province to make a realistic wage offer, says AUPE President Dan MacLennan.

“AUPE members showed the government that they are angered by the unfair one-per-cent offer they have received,” MacLennan said. “We expect the pressure by our members who are employed by the government to increase in the New Year unless a fair offer is forthcoming.

“AUPE members need to keep contacting their MLAs to seek their involvement in reaching a fair settlement,” MacLennan said. “I am confident that most MLAs understand the good work these members do and the rising cost of living that we all face.”

Click here for a link to the Legislature’s Web page for information on how to contact your MLA.

A total of 12 information pickets were held Wednesday and Thursday in 10 Alberta communities, he said. Nearly 900 members took part in the largest information picket, a demonstration of support for the AUPE government service bargaining committee that took place in Edmonton Thursday.

“Everyone in Alberta understands that the present offer in the current inflationary times is completely unfair and unacceptable,” MacLennan said. “This impasse shouldn’t continue. Our goal is to reach a fair and acceptable settlement.”

Noon hour information pickets took place last Wednesday in Calgary, Grande Prairie, Peace River and High Prairie. Click here to view photos of some of those events.

Noon hour information pickets took place the next day at two locations in Edmonton, two locations in Red Deer and in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and St. Paul. Click here to see photos of some of those events.

The information pickets, in which more than 2,000 AUPE members participated province-wide, received extensive media coverage on radio, television and in newspapers throughout the province — from Peace River and Grande Prairie to Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.

“We know the government has a $3.35-billion surplus, $1 billion higher than its original forecast, and we know these employees do valuable and important work for a growing province with the highest rate of inflation in Canada,” MacLennan said.

MacLennan noted that AUPE took the high road in the negotiations, starting with a reasonable position of a six-per-cent wage increase. “The employer has never budged from its one-per-cent offer, so we remain at an impasse.”

AUPE remains prepared to meet with government negotiators at any time there is realistic hope of progress being made, MacLennan said.

In addition to the soaring cost of living, heating and insurance costs faced by all Albertans, direct government employees also face higher costs from specific policies imposed by their employer, including increases in payroll deduction for pension and benefit programs.

The AUPE Government service Bargaining Committee includes members from all nine AUPE Locals — numbered 001 to 012 — that represent direct employees of the government.

In 2001, AUPE and the government agreed during negotiations for the collective agreement that is now in effect to sit down to wage-reopener talks in the third year of the contract. In a wage-reopener, the union and employer agree to negotiate wages for the last year of the collective agreement, leaving all other provisions in place in the contract.