‘Count Me In!’ campaign generates interest and support for bargaining
EDMONTON – AUPE’s “Count Me In!” campaign to get ready for bargaining in 2008 for well over 30,000 health care sector workers across Alberta is generating enthusiastic interest and response from members.
But much more needs to be done, says campaign organizer Greg Maruca, an AUPE Union Representative.
Thousands of members — including Auxiliary Nursing Care and General Support Service employees of health regions as well as public-sector continuing-care providers — have completed bargaining surveys and filled out union-dues continuance cards, Maruca said.
“While there has been a great response, it’s essential that many more members sign the cards and take part in the survey to help us be ready for the next round of bargaining,” Maruca said.
Thousands more are wearing “Count Me In!” buttons in their workplaces. “The first five thousand buttons we ordered flew out of here like hotcakes,” said Maruca. “Another order of 5,000 arrived at headquarters today.”
“We’re very pleased with the interest and commitment that our members are showing in this key round of bargaining,” he stated. “But it’s important for us to keep the momentum building until we have reached the agreements that our members in this sector deserve.”
As a result, AUPE activists will continue to talk to members and bring them cards to sign and buttons to wear in their workplaces in the weeks ahead, he said.
In addition, Maruca said, it is extremely important that stewards and activists in locals and chapters return the survey sheets and signed cards they have collected from members to Headquarters.
Members should send the cards to AUPE’s Records Department at Headquarters in Edmonton, or take them to the nearest AUPE Regional Office to forward. Questions on how to forward the cards may be directed to Maruca at 1-800-232-7284,.
As for the bargaining survey, in addition to the paper copies circulated at AUPE health sector worksites, an on-line version of the survey is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of this Web page and on the AUPE Home Page.
The 2008 round of negotiations come amidst an economic situation that includes a soaring cost of living and serious recruitment and retention challenges for employers caused by our province’s energy-driven boom,
To help prepare for bargaining, AUPE members working for health sector employers are being asked to consider doing four things right now:
- Completing the bargaining survey.
- Filling out a union-dues continuance card.
- Making sure AUPE has up-to-date address, telephone and contact information.
- Volunteering to help with the bargaining process.
AUPE members should continue to keep an eye on their workplace union bulletin boards for information related to the campaign.
Health sector members interested in volunteering to help in the 2008 bargaining round should contact their local or chapter executives. To get the names of these union officers, members may call AUPE headquarters or their AUPE regional office at 1-800-232-7284, or by emailing info@aupe.org.