ATB Financial employees ratify new agreement
EDMONTON – More than 2,000 members of Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Local 020, representing ATB Financial employees, have a new collective agreement today, following a vote count Feb. 3 at AUPE Headquarters.
Members ratified a tentative agreement reached in late December 2011. The affirmative vote brings to an end over a year of bargaining.
“With over a year of bargaining, our members were growing frustrated by the lack of progress,” said Local 020 Chair Lori Nemirsky. “We had two information pickets where the members put their frustrations into action. After reaching the tentative agreement, we contacted members around the province to talk to them about it. They were happy to hear about the work the bargaining committee put in, and it shows in the positive vote for the new contract.”
The three-year agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2011, and expires March 31, 2014. It includes three-per-cent increases in base pay each year, plus a salary range progression of 1.5 per cent each year.
There are also increases to the shift differential, Sunday work premium, and the defined location supplementary allowance, along with improvements to various categories of personal leave, improvements to overtime language and new language dealing with teleworking/working from home, job sharing and payment of legal fees.
Another significant accomplishment was the renewal of the improved Workforce Reduction letter of agreement and other improvements to the Severance Allowance and reimbursement for retraining, career counseling and job search assistance.
“We are happy to have reached an agreement that satisfies both parties before arbitration,” said AUPE staff negotiator John Wevers. “This agreement has several key improvements that members told us they needed, and we’re pleased that the members have endorsed it.”
AUPE represents more than 2,000 ATB Financial employees providing financial services throughout Alberta via 165 branches, 131 agencies and a Customer Contact Centre. AUPE represents Customer Service Representatives, Specialists, Coordinators, Assistants, Service Support, Secretaries, Receptionists, Clerks, Analysts and Officers and all other employees except those excluded by written agreement.
ATB Financial is the largest Alberta-based financial institution, providing various personal and business services to more than 670,000 Albertans in 242 communities. ATB Financial was established in 1938 and has been a provincial Crown corporation since 1997.
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For more information:
John Wevers, AUPE staff negotiator: 780-930-3349 or 780-238-4767 (cell)
Vanessa Bjerreskov, AUPE communications: 780-930-5202