AUPE tables salary position in Calgary GSS bargaining
CALGARY – Negotiations continue between the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and the Calgary Health Region for a new collective agreement for approximately 5,000 of the region’s general support service employees.
Bargaining committees for the two sides met on Aug. 31-Sept. 1 and Sept. 27-28, said AUPE Staff Negotiator Malcolm McNaughton.
During those four days of bargaining, McNaughton said, the parties signed off 18 non-monetary articles and 10 letters of understanding as either current or amended.
AUPE also tabled its salary position, he said, proposing a two-year collective agreement with pay increases of five per cent in each year of the contract for all classifications and pay steps. In addition, the union is proposing special classification adjustments for several classifications.
Under the union’s proposal, the term of the agreement would be from April 1, 2005, to March 31, 2007.
To date, the Calgary Health Region has not tabled a salary position, but they are proposing a three-year term of agreement.
During bargaining on Sept. 28, the employer tabled a consolidated master salary schedule that would move all local conditions relating to salaries into a single master schedule. After a careful review of this proposal, the AUPE bargaining committee found numerous examples of unacceptable classifications that would negatively affect union members.
In response to AUPE’s concerns, the employer is reviewing its proposal, McNaughton said.
AUPE President Dan MacLennan joined the union bargaining committee on Sept. 27 and 28, McNaughton said.
Additional bargaining dates have been set for:
- Oct. 26-27, 2005
- Nov. 1-2, 2005
Last April, GSS employees in the Calgary health region ratified a “receiving agreement” that consolidated eight old agreements into a single contract.
Calgary Health Region GSS Bargaining Committee
Barb Parker
High River Hospital
Connie Quayle
Claresholm Care Centre
Rose Wright
Community Health Thornhill
James Busko
Foothills Medical Centre
James Arthurs
Peter Lougheed Centre
Malcolm McNaughton
AUPE Staff Negotiator