Millwoods Shepherd’s Care Centre reaches tentative agreement with AUPE
EDMONTON – Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Local 047/014 bargaining committee who work at the Millwoods location for Shepherd’s Care Foundation continuing care reached a tentative agreement with their employer on August 21, 2009.
“This agreement is significant in that it is the first time a tentative agreement has been negotiated with the employer before the former agreement expires,” said AUPE Staff Negotiator John Wevers.
An information meeting regarding this tentative agreement is to be held on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, with a ratification vote to take place on Thursday, Aug. 27. The one-year agreement, which matches the collective agreement of Kensington Care Centre, will expire August 31, 2010.
“With this tentative agreement, we have reached significant standardization among the five Shepherd’s Care Centre sites,” Wevers said.
Monetary improvements include:
• Salary increase of 8 per cent for Health Care Aides and between 8 per cent and 12 per cent for Licensed Practical Nurses.
• Shift differentials will be broken down into evening shift, which goes from 14:45 to 23:00, and night shift, which runs from 22:45 to 07:00 for night shift for a significant increase to shift differential.
• Evening shift premiums will be increased to $2.50 per hour as of Sept. 1, and to $2.75 per hour on Jan. 1, 2010; Night shift increases to $3.00 per hour as of Sept. 1, to $4.25 per hour on Jan. 1, 2010, and to $5.00 per hour on July 1, 2010. This replaces a flat rate of $1.75 for the former night shift.
• Weekend premium will be increased to $2.25 per hour as of Sept. 1, 2009, and to $3.00 per hour Jan. 1, 2010, up from $1.75 per hour on the previous agreement.
• Signing bonus Signing payment of $250.00 within 30 days of ratification
• Retention payment of $350.00 within 30 days of June 1, 2010
New additions to the contract include:
• Premium Assignment Pay of $1.00 per hour in addition to regular salary for building responsibility or security responsibility.
• Charge pay of $1.00 per hour in addition to regular salary.
• Employees receive up to three professional development days with pay
• Up to $150.00 reimbursement for professional fees
Benefits improvements include:
• “Superstat” pay for working Christmas and New Year’s Day.
• 4 Special Leave days with pay for family illness and emergent matters.
• Millwoods Shepherd’s Care facility Local Authorities Pension Plan endorsement for full-time and part-time employees.
• In addition, contribution to the Existing Defined Contribution RSP for current employees involved and one-month window for any other current employees.
• Improvements to the Dental Plan fee schedule based on current year costs.
• New anti-discrimination and harassment policy in place.
• $250.00 flexible Health Spending Account effective Oct. 1, 2009.
• Employer to contribute $3,000.00 annually to social fund.
“The terms negotiated in the latest Millwoods collective agreement marks a 90 per cent similarity in contract language, terms, and conditions between these bargaining units,” said Wevers.
“The terms in this collective agreement marks a huge step toward the long-term goal of consolidation of the Shepherd’s Care collective agreements,” he concluded.
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