School boards and union settle grievance prior to arbitration
EDMONTON – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees settled outstanding grievances with the Edmonton Catholic School District No. 7 and Living Waters Catholic Regional Division No. 42 today, prior to proceeding to arbitration.
As a result of this settlement, AUPE members in these locals will see their wages adjusted, retroactive to Sept. 1, 2009, to reflect an increase of 5.99 per cent over the previous year. The new rates and retroactive pay should appear on members’ paychecks very shortly.
“We’re always happy to resolve a grievance without arbitration,” said Tom Fuller, the union representative who handled the grievances on behalf of Local 071, Chapters 012 and 013.
The grievances related to wording in the collective agreements for both chapters, which gave employees a raise in September 2009 equivalent to the Alberta average weekly earnings increase published by Statistics Canada.
When the agreements were signed in 2007 and 2008 respectively, the rate was expected to be approximately 4 per cent. However, in 2009, Statistics Canada improved their methodology for calculating average weekly earnings, and the new formula yielded an increase percentage of 5.99 per cent.
Wording related to the Statistics Canada percentage is part of many collective agreements affecting many bargaining units, unions, and employers across the province. The Alberta Teachers Association recently completed arbitration on this matter with the Government and the school boards, at which the arbitrator found in favour of the ATA.
“We believe the ATA decision was instrumental in settling this grievance so quickly,” said Fuller.
For more information:
Tom Fuller, Disputes and Arbitration, AUPE, 780-930-5215
John Wevers, AUPE, 780-930-3349