Are walkouts or lockouts bad for your wallet? Not when your boss is already trying to steal your wages, laying you off in the hundreds, and steamrolling your benefits and more. Lockout and strike pay isn’t ideal, but neither are wage rollbacks, and your biggest employers are preparing them against you right now.
One of the worst culprits is the Government of Alberta, because its steers the direction of bargaining at the other tables, guiding other employers, such AHS, the post-secondaries and even private-sector bosses, to shortchange workers across sectors. In other words, the provincial government thinks of its own staff as pawns.
You can stand strong and say, ‘public services are valuable.’
This is how they pit you against each other, and make you feel guilty for wanting better working conditions when your sister, husband, or neighbour can’t even find a job. But slashing the wages of social workers won’t win welders their job back – it will only open the door for more layoffs, austerity budgets, reduced public services and unfair labour laws.
Strike and lockout pay are temporary; salary cuts and job cuts are not. They will affect you and future generations of workers for years to come.
“That’s what the provincial government wants, and there’s a good chance they’ll lock out GOA members to get it,” says Susan Slade. “We can’t stop them from locking you out – from cutting you off from your pay and blocking you from your worksites. This is the strongest pressure tactic employers have against workers, and it’s legal.”
But you can resist the intimidation and refuse to settle for an unreasonable collective agreement. “You can stand strong and say, ‘public services are valuable,’” adds Slade. And to force the bosses to listen, you must also protect your personal finances, so here are some steps to help you do that:
1. Some lockouts and strikes last longer than others, but the more workers who participate on a picket line, the more successful - and likely, shorter – the work stoppage will be. If a lockout or strike lasts longer than five days, AUPE members will receive $400/week as per the Provincial Executive Policy.
This financial support comes straight from the union strike fund; it’s not only deduction-free, but also the government can’t take any taxes or CPP from it.
List of all your most basic, day-to-day expenses, such as rent, groceries, insurance, transportation, and prescription drugs. Build a budget. Members with dependents receive an additional $40/week in strike pay per dependent.
If you need some professional help with budgeting or debt management, call the 24-hour AUPE Crisis Support Service number at 1-844-744-7026, which is provided through a third party.
2. So, you’ve budgeted for your everyday expenses, but what about those bigger costs? If you have a mortgage a line of credit for your vehicle, or something similar, deal with them now.
Most banks and creditors have policies to allow deferred payment if you have a work stoppage. Call them and talk about your ability to make payments, take out loans, and more. When workers strike, they shouldn’t have to sacrifice their long-term financial stability.
3. Health benefits are an important part of a union contract, and many workers have had to strike to get or improve them.
If you have benefits that you’ve negotiated into your collective agreement, the union will continue to pay the employer to cover the cost the entire time you’re on lockout or strike.
4. The decision to strike is never easy, and a lockout is even harder because the bosses thrust it upon you. But you and your co-workers aren’t alone in your fight. If you’re experiencing stress, burnout or other struggles, there are people you can talk to.
Call:
211: The free Alberta Community and Social Service Help Line. Open 24/7 (and available in over 150 languages), it will connect you to a whole network of supports such as shelter/housing resources, food relief, LGBTQ2S+ resources and more.
The AUPE Crisis Support line (1-844-744-7026): Access Your Employee and Family Assistance Program. This will open the door to a number of counselling and financial services.
You won’t even think twice about helping your co-worker, because you know there’s a whole group ready to do the same for you.
You might have more support than you think. The more of us participating in a lockout or strike picket line, the better we'll be. Many people are willing to provide support by way of meals or even financial assistance. Sometimes we just have to ask.
“I’ve been on many picket lines in my day, and it’s not an easy experience, but it brings out a real sense of community,” says Slade. “You won’t even think twice about helping your co-worker, because you know there’s a whole group ready to do the same for you.”
There are many heartwarming stories of co-workers supporting co-workers by helping pay for child-care, donating winter clothes, and more.
A last resort: If during a lockout or strike you take all these steps and exhaust all other financial support systems, visit the AUPE Members' Benefits Benevolent Fund page.
If you are in a financial emergency, you may qualify for financial assistance. Read the criteria first before completing an application. AUPE will assess each application individually.