Recently, the UCP government asked independent arbitrator Phyllis Smith to delay wage-adjustment arbitration for tens of thousands of AUPE members. After hearing presentations from Government and AUPE legal counsel the independent arbitrator ruled in favour of following the previously agreed upon terms of the collective agreements and denied the Government’s request to delay the arbitration.

AUPE members working in Provincial Government Services, AHS General Support Services, and AHS Nursing Care ratified collective agreements last year which include wage-adjustment arbitration to be held no later than June 30. A delay of this arbitration process would have been a denial of the legitimate and legal negotiated rights of these members.

“We are pleased the arbitrator has decided to honour our collective agreements,” said AUPE President Guy Smith. “AUPE members and all working Albertans expect the rules established in their collective agreements to be taken seriously, and we maintain that the UCP government share those expectations moving forward.”

As a result, wage arbitration will go ahead as scheduled with meetings beginning on June 11.

Wage re-opener talks begin

Your bargaining committee met with the employer on Jan. 23 at AUPE headquarters in Edmonton to exchange initial wage re-opener proposals.