AUPE members to hold information pickets at Alberta Cancer Board facilities in Calgary, March 2, and Edmonton, March 3
EDMONTON – Members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees who work for the Alberta Cancer Board will hold information pickets in Calgary and Edmonton later this week to express their dissatisfaction with the current state of negotiations.
The first information picket will be held Thursday, March 2 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary, 1331 – 29 St. NW.
On Friday, March 3, AUPE members will be picketing outside of the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, from noon to 1 p.m.
AUPE President Dan MacLennan will participate in both information pickets and will be available for media interviews.
More than 500 cancer board employees, including auxiliary nursing members, general support staff and researchers have been without a contract since March 31, 2005, said MacLennan.
“This employer finds itself in a sound financial position thanks to significant additional contributions from the provincial government,” MacLennan said.
“Our members expect to be compensated at the same levels as employees in other bargaining units doing similar work at facilities run by Alberta’s health regions.”
The Alberta Cancer Board recently received from the Alberta Government, a 23-per-cent increase in operating funding, which represents an operating budget of $239 million for 2005-06.
Board officials have refused to depart from their initial wage offer of a nine-per-cent increase over three years.
The union is proposing a 10-per-cent increase over two years, including wage adjustments for several classifications.
Other key issues that remain outstanding include, hours of work, sick leave and health benefits, specifically a discretionary health benefit account.
Negotiations with Alberta Cancer Board officials commenced in May 2005.
For more information, contact:
Dan MacLennan, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-232-8392 (cellular phone)
John Wevers, Staff Negotiator, AUPE, 780-414-7970 or 780-232-9820
Scott Pattison, Communications Staff, AUPE, 780-930-3406