Bargaining Update: AgeCare Walden Heights (ANC) Local 048, Chapter 031
Bargaining has been interrupted at AgeCare Walden Heights after the employer cancelled our latest negotiating date.
When we wrote our last bargaining update, we had signed off on most of the non-monetary items—a process which was slowed down when the employer assigned a new negotiator to the table. We have now signed off the non-monetary items, and are aiming to advance on the monetary front. The employer seems to be less enthusiastic about doing so.
We know that all our co-workers at Walden Heights have put in huge amounts of time and effort to support the bargaining committee—and make the employer respect the negotiating process. Your bargaining committee felt that support. We felt it with the car signs, the balloons and when we all wear pink in solidarity.
AgeCare took notice as well. Our signs and balloons started showing up at the worksite on July 20 in the afternoon and moments before we were to get the bargaining table on July 21, the employer mysteriously cancelled our date.
We had let the employer know we expected to have a discussion about monetary issues at the bargaining table. We were hoping to make real progress on the employer’s low-ball monetary proposal, but this did not happen.
Your bargaining committee feels frustrated by the employer cancelling dates. The employer needs to compromise on their insulting offer, which would keep you all near the bottom of the provinces wage scale for the essential work you do. This cancellation reminds us of the change in negotiators, which also coincidentally occurred shortly after you and your co-workers engaged in direct action at the work site. It’s clear to us that the employer is noticing we are united in our fight to negotiate a fair collective agreement, and is feeling nervous about our unity.
Our next bargaining dates are scheduled for October 27-28. If we do not see drastic improvements in their monetary offer we will moving to get this file in front of a mediator.
Your organizing makes the negotiations possible. It is through our united action at work that we can show our employer that we are essential to making our site function. Nothing works unless we work, and it’s time that the employer treated us with the respect we deserve.
Reach out to your bargaining committee with any questions, comments, or feedback—and get involved in the fight to win a fair contract.
Your bargaining committee and AUPE Negotiations team.
Lisa Dray 403-554-8714 or lmdray@gmail.com
Emily Unggos: unggosemily@yahoo.ca
Maggie Couper magycouper@gmail.com
Alternates:
Tracy Downey peachpoje@hotmail.com
Cecile Factura c_gemini61@yahoo.com
AUPE staff representatives
Christian Tetreault, Negotiator c.tetreault@aupe.org
Jon Milton, Communications j.milton@aupe.org