AHS GSS: AHS was not prepared to talk money – plus Strike Captain training
Your negotiating team met with AHS on February 5 and 6 to get back to bargaining.
We are frustrated. There is no other way to say it. Bargaining moved slowly, and AHS was not prepared to discuss finances – or, in other words, the wages and benefits we deserve.
AHS says our proposals would cost too much money. So we asked to see how they costed out our proposals and reached that conclusion. AHS did not have these numbers for us.
At this point, we feel like we are in “hurry up and wait” mode.
Our wages must rise
AHS insists on comparing us, our work, and what we deserve to similar workplaces in the private sector.
Newsflash: private companies cut corners to make profits, meaning staff conditions, wages, and the quality of services suffer.
We work in public health care, and one reason public health care is so important is because we’re supposed to be better than that.
We know AHS’s wage offer is not good enough. Your team knows it’s not good enough.
Many AUPE members, including those of us working in AHS GSS, have only received a 4.25 per cent total raise over the last 13 years. Compare that to the cost of living, which has gone up by at least 38 per cent in that same time frame. Our employers must do better. Our government and AHS must do better.
We voiced our concerns and even told AHS they are not living up to their own mission, vision, and values when it comes to how they treat their staff.
Unfortunately, AHS does not have to care just because we talk about it.
We are going to need lots of support and real solidarity to win the wages, benefits, and working conditions we deserve. We might even need to go on strike.
Our next bargaining meetings are not yet scheduled.
Urgent: Strike Captain Training
It's almost certain – we need to take serious action if we want to win this round of bargaining. That means we might need to go on strike.
AUPE members must be prepared. That’s why we are urgently recruiting Strike Captains.
Register today for an upcoming Strike Captain Course. This in-person course is just 1 day and you will receive time off work to take it.
AUPE’s education staff are here if you need help registering. Please contact them to help you sign up as soon as possible.
Wendy Pasko
w.pasko@aupe.org
780-930-3351
or
Niki Suvan
n.suvan@aupe.org
780-930-5284
Learn more about being a Strike Captain and register for a course near you.
Keep wearing red to show your solidarity! Email photos of you and your coworkers wearing red to photos@aupe.org to share on AUPE’s social media.
Please contact a member of your negotiating team if you have any questions.
AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – AHS GSS
Local 054
Charity Hill
charity.johanson@gmail.com
Christine Madigan (alt)
christinecmadigan@gmail.com
Local 056
Juanita Cozicar
jcozicar@telus.net
Kristina Javorsky (alt)
kjavorsky123@gmail.com
Local 057
Wendy Kicia
wendykicia@hotmail.com
Janice Drader (alt)
draderjanice@gmail.com
Local 058
Dave Ibach
d1322j@gmail.com
Marlin Meyer (alt)
marlindmeyer@hotmail.com
Local 095
Anna Silva
a.silva@shaw.ca
James Sullivan (alt)
sullivanlocal95@gmail.com
Lamont Health Care Centre
Carol Palichuk
carolpalichuk@hotmail.com
Sherri-Lee Berezanski (alt)
makbrayland@hotmail.com
AUPE RESOURCE STAFF
Chris Dickson, Lead Negotiator
c.dickson@aupe.org
Kate Robinson, Negotiator
k.robinson@aupe.org