Unions are made up of workers who have come together to engage with employers as a group on issues such as wages, benefits and working conditions. When an effective bargaining relationship is established with an employer, employees and employers benefit. Employees negotiate with the strength of the numbers behind them. Employers benefit from a stable environment for industrial relations. Approximately 46% of AUPE members entitled to vote voted. Of these, 91% voted in favour, the union announced on Monday. Smith said he did not expect the two sides to reach an agreement and that the union was prepared for a possible strike or lockout after such a lengthy and controversial bargaining process. He said the government had changed its tone as the deal approached. In October 2020, provincial negotiators informed the union that 930 job cuts were on the table. A mediator was called in March after the talks broke down. “Workers who expected their jobs to be abolished at any time are obviously very relieved and know that they are safe until the end of 2022, when the agreement will be ratified,” he said. Read more: AUPE, province has reached a negotiated agreement for Alberta`s public sector employees About 46% of eligible workers voted for the new contract.
AUPE represents 22,000 Alberta government employees who are covered by the contract. “We believe the government wanted to set a tone that will likely be replicated at other bargaining tables. That`s historically what happened — that this collective agreement with the Alberta government itself, if you will, points the way forward for others,” he said. A proposed new collective agreement for the 22,000 government employees of the Alberta Provincial Employees Union (AUPE) includes an initial wage freeze, followed by increases and a promise not to outsource maintenance until at least the end of 2022, the union said. You can view the agreement on the following pages. Alternatively, a PDF of the full agreement is available here. The agreement, which will come into effect on March 31, 2024, includes: “I respect the hard work and dedication of Alberta Public Service staff and look forward to the results of the ratification vote,” he said. Finance Minister Travis Toews said in a statement Monday that the deal recognizes the province`s “long-term economic outlook.” The rest of the collective agreement came into force with ratification on Monday.
The new agreement expires on March 31, 2024. Alberta government employees, represented by the Alberta Provincial Employees Union, have ratified a new collective agreement that extends job security for permanent employees until the end of 2022 and provides for small wage increases in the last 15 months of the agreement. “I am confident that other public sector unions will turn to this successful process and that negotiations across the public sector will move forward constructively,” said Toews. The union`s collective bargaining committee recommends that members vote in favour of the agreement. The new agreement provides for an eight per cent salary increase for members who are now part of the Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence Rural Defence Response Force (RAPID), retroactive to April 1, 2021. The AUPE is funded by all members who benefit from a collective agreement and union representation. Each member pays 1.25% of their base salary to the AUPE in the form of tax-deductible union dues (dues are not paid on overtime or bonuses). This sentence may be changed only by a two-thirds majority of the delegates to the annual meeting. The democratically elected delegates sent to the congress determine how AUPE money is spent. Between conventions, the provincial executive oversees expenditures, and the financial statements are available to all members for review upon request.
In addition to the compensation, job security and other benefits provided for in AUPE`s collective agreements, this union is ready to represent you in any way. “This agreement recognizes the province`s long-term economic prospects and provides members with an increase in compensation during the third and fourth years of the contract.” Smith said he believes this latest deal with the administration would have an impact on those other negotiating tables. During last year`s negotiations, the government proposed a four percent wage cut for workers. The government also wanted other concessions, including paying for overtime and benefits, but these are not part of the final deal, Smith said. .
