By Terry Inigo-Jones, Communications Staff
The battle has begun.
AUPE’s Government Services Bargaining Committee (GSBC) and the Government of Alberta (GOA) have exchanged proposals and started negotiating.
The government’s opening offer was insulting. Their proposals would allow the GOA to cut members’ jobs and force wages to fall further behind the rising costs of living. For more details, you can read the latest GSBC bargaining update here.
“This goes beyond the 22,000 Government Services members—it goes for the more than 81,000 AUPE members who are either already bargaining or about to start bargaining.”
The Alberta Health Services (AHS) General Support Services negotiating team has also exchanged proposals with their employer, and the AHS Nursing Care team will do the same in mid-March.
“We must display our solidarity with our negotiating teams, express our determination and show that we will fight to get a fair deal,” says Smith. “This goes beyond the 22,000 Government Services members—it goes for the more than 81,000 AUPE members who are either already bargaining or about to start bargaining.”
Worker power
The good news is that workers have power.
AUPE is the largest union in Western Canada, with more than 95,000 members across the province. Imagine the power we would weild if all of us organized and mobilized to support bargaining. Imagine our influence if we engaged all of our fellow workers with the goal of fighting for what we need and deserve to support ourselves, our families, and our communities. There is strength in numbers, and that is how AUPE members will succeed in bargaining.
Better contracts will not just benefit us, but all Albertans. Albertans rely on us for vital services and programs. The strength of our working conditions matters and impacts the services we provide, from social supports for people in need to helping businesses operate.
“AUPE members drive the provincial economy,” says Smith. “We buy houses, cars and groceries. AUPE workers are vital contributors to local tax bases and to local businesses, especially in smaller and rural communities. When our members make better wages, the whole floor of the economy rises.”
AUPE’s negotiating teams will rely on members to show their support in the coming weeks and months. There will be “wear-red” days where members are encouraged to send a message to their employers by all dressing in the same colour. There will be a lawn-sign campaigns to help Albertans show their support for us. There will be community town halls and rallies at worksites where we can make a lot of noise.
“We need to send the message that this is not the time for more job cuts, more service cuts, more privatization, and more chaos.”
“Solidarity actions are important, but we must be prepared to do more,” says Smith. “Sometimes we need to take more direct action that affects our workplaces. Most of us would use a strike as a last resort, if possible, but it’s a powerful tool workers use to get what they deserve.”
Smith noted that the willingness to strike can itself be enough to pressure an employer.
“The more prepared we are to strike, the less likely a strike will be needed,” he says. “We also need to be prepared in case our employers choose to lock us out.”
The Government of Alberta has already signalled that—despite having billions of dollars more in revenue than they forecasted—it wants to squeeze workers’ wages and programs to make their budget look better, creating chaos in the delivery of services.
When you hear the government talk about “fiscal restraint” or “responsible spending,” all while revealing they have a few extra billions of dollars in surplus, you can bet something sneaky is afoot.
Those phrases are code for more squeezing of public-sector workers, more cuts to vital public services, and more contracting out of our jobs to private, for-profit employers (who provide lower quality services at higher costs, while paying workers less).
Smith says now is the time to invest in Alberta’s public services.
“We need to send the message that this is not the time for more job cuts, more service cuts, more privatization, and more chaos.”
Demand for services grows
Demand for the services AUPE members provide continues to grow. According to ATB Financial, the province’s population grew by more than 200,000 in 2023, the highest rate since 1981. ATB expects the population to hit five million in the next two years.
Do you think the rising number of Albertans can be supported by the same lower number of government services staff, health care staff, or post-secondary education staff? The answer is no. When the population goes up, the number of workers in vital public services must also increase to support them.
More people means more demand for services, but there’s a global shortage of workers. The health-care sector is among the hardest hit. This means employers need to pay more and create better working conditions in order to attract and retain workers.
“AUPE members drive the provincial economy... When our members make better wages, the whole floor of the economy rises.”
Alberta has money
The Alberta government predicts a budget surplus of $5.5 billion for the 2023-24 year. That’s $3.2 bullion more than it anticipated in last year’s budget. This is the government’s opportunity to invest in the services that have struggled with short staffing, outdated equipment, and more for so long.
“If Alberta wants to prosper, its workers must prosper,” says Smith. “After years of cuts, after being hit with high rates of inflation, after staff shortages have caused mass burn-out among workers, this is not the time to punish us with more cuts or low wages that fall further behind.”
He adds: “This time, it’s our time. Whether you’re an AUPE member with the government, or in health care, education, or with boards and agencies, your work keeps this province moving. Your work keeps Albertans safe. The government must invest its surplus to improve services and working conditions, not funnel it off to their rich friends through privatization and corporate tax cuts.”