AUPE’s Provincial Executive will determine response to court ruling
EDMONTON – The Provincial Executive of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees will meet Saturday to determine the union’s response to an Alberta Court of Appeal ruling yesterday that affirmed a disputed 2001 decision by the Alberta Labour Relations Board.
“Our staff and counsel are now examining the court’s ruling to determine the most appropriate way for us to respond,” AUPE President Doug Knight said today. “On Saturday, the Provincial Executive will look at their findings and decide on the response that best serves AUPE’s members.”
AUPE’s Provincial Executive acts as the union’s governing body between conventions.
Left unchallenged, the Court of Appeal ruling released yesterday would allow the Labour Relations Board to suspend for two months the deduction and remittance of union dues by the employer from AUPE members who work for several health sector employers.
The decision by the Court of Appeal stems from a walkout by about 8,000 Alberta health care workers in May of 2000.
As a result the walkout, AUPE was fined $400,000 by the courts — the largest fine of its type in Canadian history. That fine was later reduced by the Alberta Court of Appeal to $200,000.
In April 2001, the ALRB also conditionally imposed a two-month dues suspension on AUPE, and in September and October 2002 rejected AUPE arguments against the dues suspension.
AUPE appealed the ALRB’s decision to the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench, which in 2004 ruled in the union’s favour.
Lawyers for the employers subsequently appealed the Court of Queen’s Bench decision, resulting in yesterday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal.
The AUPE members walked off the job in May 2000 in response to the refusal of their employers to negotiate a fair contract. The action lasted for two days, after which a fair contract was reached.
For more information, contact:
Doug Knight, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-265-6655 (mobile telephone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (mobile telephone)