AUPE members at Lethbridge care facility ratify three-year agreement
LETHBRIDGE – Members of AUPE employed at the private sector Edith Cavell Care Centre have ratified a new collective agreement that provides the same pay increases as those received by employees of public health care facilities throughout Alberta.
In addition to wage increases that match those in the multi-employer Auxiliary Nursing Care (ANC) and General Support Service (GSS) agreements reached this fall between AUPE and Alberta’s health regions, the three-year agreement between the Lethbridge long-term care centre and Local 048/011 includes numerous other improvements.
The vote took place on Friday, Feb. 20, at the workplace in Lethbridge.
AUPE Staff Negotiator Dale Perry said that among the improvements are increases in shift and weekend differential pay, improved vacation entitlements, more generous health benefits, improved sick leave and better pension provisions.
For example, Perry noted, health benefits will now be paid 75 per cent by the employer, instead of 50 per cent under the old agreement.
The agreement with the private, for-profit company also includes a no-contracting-out agreement for the life of the contract, Perry said.
There are approximately 110 members in the AUPE bargaining unit at the facility.