Health care workers’ rate adjustments, retro pay are on the way
EDMONTON – Rate adjustments, retroactive pay and lump-sum payments for AUPE Auxiliary Nursing Care members directly employed by health regions throughout the province are now appearing on paycheques in most locations.
ANC employees in the Capital Health Region can expect their pay increases after Nov. 28.
More than 13,000 AUPE ANC members throughout Alberta ratified a four-year collective agreement in mail-in ballots counted at union Headquarters on Aug. 21.
In addition to pay increases of 5 per cent in the first year, 5 per cent in the second year, and 4.5 per cent or the Alberta Average Weekly Earnings, whichever is higher, in each of the third and fourth years, more than 90 per cent of the ANC members qualified for market adjustments.
Meanwhile, rate adjustments and retroactive pay for AUPE General Support Service members are expected to have appeared on paycheques by Nov. 28.
Pay increases are usually processed by employers in 30 to 60 days after an agreement is ratified, and AUPE expects the GSS increases to be dealt with within that time frame in the Capital, Peace Country, Aspen, East Central and David Thompson health regions.
AUPE has been formally notified by the Calgary Health Region that pay increases and retro pay to March 31, 2008, in that region has been scheduled for their Nov. 28 pay.
In addition, the Calgary Health Region said those classifications entitled to a $750 lump-sum payment would receive it with their Dec. 12 pay, and that those classifications entitled to retro pay from March 31, 2008, to Aug. 1, 2007, would be paid on Dec. 12.
Mail-in ratification votes for approximately 19,000 AUPE GSS members in the six health regions were counted in October, and three-year agreements in all regions were ratified.
The agreements included pay increases of 5 per cent in each year, significant market adjustments for most members, and improvements in on-call duty pay, evening, night and weekend shift differential pay, personal leave, vacations, and the inclusion of a new Health Spending Account effective Jan. 1, 2009.
Alberta’s nine health regions will cease to exist as legal entities on April 1, 2009.