GSS Multi Bargaining Team disappointed at employer's lack of response
EDMONTON – Two days of mediation have ended in disappointment after AUPE General Support Services Bargaining Committee members’ efforts to negotiate monetary issues were rejected by the employer.
“The union tabled a complete and comprehensive monetary proposal with changes we hoped would lead to a settlement with the assistance of the mediator, David Jones,” said Staff Negotiator Malcolm McNaughton.
The GSS Multi Bargaining Committee represents over 5,000 GSS staff in AUPE Locals 056 and 057 employed by the Aspen, David Thompson, East Central and Peace Country health regions.
“Unfortunately, HBA Services, which is negotiating on behalf of the health regions, responded through the mediator saying they were not prepared to address or respond to any of the monetary proposals we put on the table,” McNaughton said.
The AUPE Bargaining Committee proposed a four-year agreement including 5-per-cent increases in the first and second years and the greater of 4.5 per cent or increases in the Alberta Average Weekly Wage in the third and final years.
Increases for shift differentials were put on the table, including a $2.75-per-hour premium for evenings, $5 per hour for nights and $3.25 per hour for weekends, to be staged in over the term of the agreement.
The Bargaining Committee has based its monetary proposal on settlements already achieved in all other Alberta health regions for all other health care employers.
The union proposal also includes market adjustments for most occupation groups, a health benefit spending account worth $500 per year, and significant improvements to the rate at which vacation is accrued to achieve parity with GSS staff in Edmonton and Calgary
The employer seeks a four-year agreement with increases of 4 per cent in the first and second year, followed by increases based on changes in the Alberta Average Weekly Earnings in the final two years.
The employer bargaining team failed to respond to the union’s proposals on shift differentials, holidays and benefits. Significant differences also remain in the area of market adjustments.
“The Bargaining Team is asking for some respect from the employer by bringing General Support Services employees into parity with comparable settlements in other major health care bargaining agreements,” said McNaughton.
“Our focus in this round of negotiations is fairness and equity. The members of Local 056 and 057,” said McNaughton, “have been treated like second class employees for too long. The employer has an opportunity to correct this situation and treat them with the equality and respect they deserve.”
The union is keeping dates open for mediation from August 18-22.
Local 056 & 057 Bargaining Committee
Local 056 members:
Jim Colter
Peace Country Health
QE ll Hospital
780-402-4404
jrcolter@telus.net
Bev Hargrove
Aspen RHA
Cold Lake Health Centre
780-594-0164
Lois Skarsen
Aspen RHA
CHS Cold Lake
780-639-2196
Local 057 members:
Gina Hoffman
David Thompson Health Region
Centennial Centre
403-783-5712
tkg1844@hotmail.com
Barney Craig
David Thompson Health Region
Red Deer Regional Hospital
403-352-4429
bccraig5@telus.net
Reg Hilts
David Thompson Health Region Drayton Valley Hospital
780-542-3937
rhilts@telus.net
Malcolm McNaughton
AUPE Staff Negotiator
1-800-232-7284 EXT: 3352
m.mcnaughton@aupe.org
(Photo: GSS Multi Bargaining Committee members met for mediation with the employer July 28 at AUPE headquarters in Edmonton. The Bargaining Committee represents GSS staff in Aspen, David Thompson, East Central and Peace Country health regions.)