AADAC employees, members of AUPE Local 059/001, will vote on employer proposal
EDMONTON – After serious consideration and extensive debate, the Bargaining Committee for AUPE Local 059/001 has agreed to give local members the opportunity to democratically vote to accept or reject the final offer received yesterday from the employer.
The committee, bargaining on behalf of approximately 750 employees of the Alberta Alcohol and Drug Addiction Commission, is bound at this time by the employer’s refusal to bargain further and the likelihood that Mediation and/or Arbitration would not result in a better offer, said AUPE Staff Negotiator Malcolm McNaughton.
“The employer’s final offer, which we received Jan. 23rd, was based on the Government of Alberta Master Agreement ratified by direct government employees in mid-September. “If the employer were to file for Arbitration, it is likely that the final outcome would be shaped by the agreement with government employees. Additionally, the extensive timelines would also seriously delay salary increases and lump sum payments.
“At the same time, the employer has made it clear they are not prepared to bargain further, and the Bargaining Committee was not able to achieve the bargaining mandate it had received from the members,” said McNaughton, who leads the union bargaining committee.
“For that reason, the committee decided the fairest course was to present the employer’s offer to our members without taking a position either for or against the offer,” he said.
The employer’s offer includes the following key points:
- Across-the-board pay increases of 4.9 per cent in the first year, 4.8 per cent in the second year and 4.3 per cent in the third year of a three-year agreement, the same as in the General Service Master Agreement.
- A signing bonus of $1,500 for all members, pro-rated for part-time, seasonal and wage employees, available only upon ratification of the agreement.
- A new core benefits package effective July 1, 2008, plus an enhanced benefits package available at members’ own cost.
- New Letters of Understanding
- 55th to 57th Parallel Retention Program
- North of 57th parallel Northern Trips
- Northern Leave
The employer maintains that current pay rates are equal to or better than those paid people doing similar work inside the public sector, McNaughton said.
In addition, the employer says it is not experiencing problems filling positions, beyond the problems normal in the social services sector throughout Alberta.
All special adjustments for pay grades and periods for job classifications not covered by the employer’s July 2007 market adjustment were refused by the employer, except for changes to the Program Consultant I and II classifications, he said.
Bargaining commenced in December and continued over 10 full days, ending with the employer’s final offer yesterday.
A ratification package containing details, the employer’s offer and a ballot, will be mailed to each member early next week.
Ballots must be returned to AUPE headquarters by Feb. 28, 2008, McNaughton said.
The Bargaining Committee urges all members to be sure to vote.
Local 059/001 Bargaining Committee
Peter Churchill
peter.churchill@aadac.gov.ab.ca
Ingrid Nijssen
ingrid.nijssn@aadac.gov.ab.ca
Wade MacIntyre
wade.macintyre@aadac.gov.ab.ca
Glenn Lantz
glenn.lantz@aadac.gov.ab.ca