Employees of Barrhead seniors’ facility vote to join AUPE
BARRHEAD – Employees of a new Shepherd’s Care long-term-care facility for seniors in this community northwest of Edmonton have voted to join the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
As a result of the vote, supervised by the Alberta Labour Relations Board at the worksite on Dec. 17, approximately 35 full-time and part-time employees will become part of AUPE, said Membership Services Officer Cory Mitic, who led the organizing drive.
“These employees worked without a union right across the street from a similar facility where employees are represented by AUPE,” Mitic said. “They wanted the same benefits and the same protection as that enjoyed by our AUPE members in health care in Barrhead.”
AUPE also represents employees at three other worksites operated by the Shepherd’s Care Foundation in Edmonton, Mitic noted.
While the group is a small one, the effort to organize them was part of a continuing effort by AUPE to extend the benefits of union membership to workers throughout the health care sector, said AUPE Union Representative, Organizing, Gil Laflamme.
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, with more than 68,000 members. Approximately 34,000 AUPE members work in front-line health care positions.
Barrhead is about 120 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.
For more information, contact:
Cory Mitic, Membership Services Officer, AUPE, 780-930-3343 or 780-966-1205 (cellular phone)
Gil Laflamme, Union Representative, AUPE, 780-930-3375 or 780-916-5100 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)