Happy Victoria Day!
AUPE wishes everyone a safe and happy May Long Weekend! Offices will be closed Monday May 20, and will reopen on Tuesday.
Attention government employees: General Services Bargaining Committee town hall meetings in Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary
The General Services Bargaining Committee will be making presentations on the state of bargaining with the Government of Alberta in Edmonton, Red Deer, and Calgary the week of May 21 – 24. Locations, times and dates of meetings follow.
- The Edmonton town hall meeting takes place 7:00 pm, Tuesday, May 21 at the Shaw Conference Centre Hall A (9797 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton). Download a poster by clicking here.
- The Red Deer town hall meeting takes place 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 22 at the Sheraton Hotel, 3310 50 Avenue. Download a poster by clicking here.
- The Calgary town hall meeting takes place 7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 23 at the University of Calgary MacEwan Conference Centre, 2500 University Drive NW. Download a poster by clicking here.
“It is essential that members come out to these meetings to tell us where they stand when it comes to bargaining and learn about the next steps we can take,” said AUPE Negotiator Dale Perry.
Click here to access previous bargaining updates related to this round of negotiations.
30
Legislated teachers contract takes away Albertans' democratic rights
EDMONTON – AUPE President Guy Smith is calling Education Minister Jeff Johnson’s unprecedented bill to force a new collective agreement on a handful of ATA Locals and elected school boards a “dangerous precedent” for collective bargaining.
COPA election seminar
Edmonton city councillor Kerry Diotte (front) was one of the guest speakers at the COPA Municipal Election Seminar, which took place at AUPE headquarters May 14. Many AUPE members from across Alberta came to the seminar to learn about the municipal election process.
Lay-offs at Red Deer College a blow to education and local economy
RED DEER – Thirty-four Red Deer College employees represented by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees are losing their jobs as a result of a 7.3-per-cent funding cut by the Redford government.
Post-secondary institutes had been promised a two-per-cent increase. The cut is reported to have cost the college $6 million. Sixty five employees across the campus are losing their jobs, with AUPE members taking the largest hit.
“This is a major blow to staff, students and the community alike,” said AUPE Vice President Jason Heistad.
“Taking $6 million out of post-secondary in Red Deer means taking $6 million out of the local economy.
“The tuition may be the same next year, but the quality of the service will be lower. Students and their families will be getting less return on their education investment,” he said.
Many of the position reductions are in the area of information technology support, library services, and student advising and recruitment. Advising and recruitment has been cut in half.
“So much of a student’s learning happens outside of the classroom, and it’s our members that ensure research can be done quickly and provide the technology to support their studies,” said Heistad.
“The blow to recruiting and advising is huge. It means fewer students learning about the advantages not only of the college, but the entire community of Red Deer. And it means fewer people to help students design a program of study that can ensure their success upon graduation,” he said.
Red Deer College is a major employer in the region. AUPE represents approximately 300 post-secondary support employees at the campus.
30
For more information:
Jason Heistad, Vice-President, AUPE – 403-373-2532
Mark Wells, Senior Communications Advisor, AUPE – 780-904-0688
AUPE committed to mediation process
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees remains committed to the mediation process ordered by the Alberta Labour Relations Board to resolve a complaint the union filed in regard to threats of retribution at corrections worksites, which were contrary to the agreement secured by President Guy Smith. AUPE’s complaint rejects the government’s claims that no such agreement existed.
It is unfortunate that the government’s pleadings in response to AUPE’s complaint were improperly leaked to a reporter, as those pleadings are nothing more than unproven and untested allegations. The purpose of mediation is resolve the union’s complaint against the government privately. We remain committed to mediation, but if that process fails to resolve the complaint, AUPE is confident that the truth will come out after all parties’ claims are subjected to cross-examination.
In keeping with the spirit of the process established by the labour board, AUPE will not make any further public statements in regard to the claims made in the government’s pleading unless or until the mediation process evolves into a public hearing process.
Rally against Cutbacks on May 25 in Edmonton!
In March, the Redford government released a budget that ravaged services to Albertans.
Cuts to numerous programs, from government services, to seniors care to post-secondary education, have eliminated services Albertans count on, along with hundreds of jobs, leaving communities reeling. In a wealthy province like Alberta, we should expect the government to protect services, not decimate them.
Keep Michener Centre open progress report
Since the campaign to keep Michener open in Red Deer began, we have accomplished a lot together. Be proud of our achievements and be dedicated to continue the fight.
Government position forces AUPE to break off talks, seek mediation
AUPE’s General Services Bargaining Committee broke off direct negotiations with the Government of Alberta on May 2, after the employer tabled a completely unacceptable offer.
NAPE solidarity with ERC officers
Workers with Her Majesty’s Penitentiary in St. John’s, who are members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), held a solidarity rally for AUPE corrections officers yesterday to raise awareness to the health and safety issues faced at correctional facilities in Canada.