Watch your mail for ratification packages and have your say!
AUPE members and the Town of Bonnyville signed a tentative agreement on April 6 after three days of bargaining. The employer was very receptive to our proposals and as a result, we have achieved a tentative agreement that we are recommending you vote “Yes” on.
The following are highlights from the agreement, and more details will follow shortly:
Wage Increases and Term of Agreement:
Three-year term expiring December 31, 2024
January 1, 2022: 2% (retroactive)
January 1, 2023: 2%
January 1, 2024: 2%
Monetary:
- Increase Flexible Spending Account from $600 to $750 per year
- Standby pay increased to $3.25 (from $2.75) and $4.75 on statutory holidays (from $3.75)
- Weekend Premiums and Shift Differential increased from $1.50 to $2.00
- Bereavement leave increased from four to five days
- Addition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a Named Holiday
- Sick leave language modernized, including the removal of threats of discipline for abuse of sick leave, and the inclusion of “avoidable illness” and “intentional injury”
- Acting incumbent pay eligibility reduced from 5 days of consecutive acting to 3 days
- Boot allowance increased from $175 to $200 and expanded eligibility for pool employees
- Clothing allowance for “inside” workers increased from $175 to $200.
- New Swimsuit Allowance of $200 for pool employees to purchase their own swimsuits
Non-Monetary:
- Gender neutral pronouns
- Improved investigation processes, including disclosure of complaint information
- Removal of demotion from discipline options
- Grievances automatically allowed if employer drops their timelines
- Addition of union involvement at the beginning of layoff process
- Several leaves of absence added including Compassionate Care leave, Critical Illness, Military leave, Death or Disappearance of a Child leave, Domestic Violence, Citizenship Ceremony leave
Members will receive the full tentative agreement shortly, along with a ratification package containing a ballot for you to send back to Headquarters by the yet-to-be determined deadline. We will be in touch once ratification details are finalized.
You will be receiving an invitation shortly to attend the Annual General Meeting on April 27, 2022. Your negotiating team will be present at the meeting to answer any questions you have about the tentative agreement before you cast your ratification ballot. Watch your inbox for further details.
Please ensure that we have your correct mailing address by making any necessary updates at aupe.org/update-info.
If you have any questions about this bargaining update, please contact a member of your negotiating team.
AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – TOWN OF BONNYVILLE
Jennifer Lasouski jlasouski@hotmail.com
Dana Mugford dmugford@live.ca or 780-545-7023
AUPE RESOURCE STAFF
Kate Robinson, Negotiations k.robinson@aupe.org
Farid Iskandar, Organizing f.iskandar@aupe.org
Terry Inigo-Jones, Communications t.inigo-jones@aupe.org