Prospects for AUPE continue to be bright in 2008, president tells members in annual New Year message
EDMONTON – Membership in the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees will continue to increase in 2008 and the foreseeable future, driven by economic factors and the union’s reputation, President Doug Knight predicted in his annual New Year Message to members.
In the message published on the union’s Website today, Knight said AUPE members “entitled to look to the future with a sense of pride and optimism.”
He noted that AUPE’s membership surpassed 68,000 in late 2007 — a far cry from the dark days of the mid-1990s when, battered by an economic downturn and harsh government policies, AUPE’s membership fell to about 35,000.
Knight predicted that the economic and social factors that led to the sustained growth of AUPE in recent years would continue in Alberta.
“Even as Alberta’s trading partners face the prospect of a slowing economy, demand for energy products and the workforce required to service the industry will ensure the Alberta economy remains buoyant,” he said.
Indeed, Knight said, slowing economic factors elsewhere may drive more newcomers to Alberta, increasing the need for a whole range of services provided by AUPE members in government, health care, education and other endeavours.
“This presents employers with immense challenges related to recruitment and retention of employees,” he said. “It provides AUPE with a historic opportunity to negotiate strong contracts that will benefit members for many years.”
Knight also praised the hard work and service of AUPE’s many committed volunteer activists and its professional staff as important factors in attracting new members.
He noted that in 2007, the union opened negotiations for close to 30 collective agreements, including 11 first agreements. That included the province’s largest and most complex agreement – the contract with the government of Alberta negotiated on behalf of more than 22,000 direct government employees — which was ratified by members in September.
In 2008, he noted, “we face with confidence the prospect of negotiating agreements for more than 30,000 front-line-health care employees, including staff in all nine Alberta health regions.”
Knight also noted the work in 2007 of more than 500 volunteers from AUPE and other unions on the campaign to change Alberta’s labour laws, which he deemed a major success for moving the issue “to the front burner for many Albertans as the province prepares for a general election expected in the spring of 2008.”
For more information, contact:
Doug Knight, President, AUPE, 780-930-3301 or 780-265-6655 (cellular phone)
David Climenhaga, Communications Director, AUPE, 780-930-3311 or 780-717-2943 (cellular phone)