Bargaining begins again
Your AHS Nursing Care negotiating team met with the employer virtually on September 7, 8, 9, and 10 to finally get back to bargaining.
We expected the employer to offer us harsh cuts, just like how AHS and the Alberta Government have offered our fellow AUPE members and health care workers in other unions. However, they did not. The discussions we had were surprisingly positive, and the employer appeared interested in hearing us out.
While negotiations were positive, we have yet to actually agree on any changes. Your team is optimistic but cautious; it’s now up to AHS to put its money where its mouth is and back up its positive tone with positive proposals.
New proposals expected soon
Your negotiating team asked if the employer would take their monetary concessions off the table and instead reward Alberta’s health care heroes with improvements to the collective agreement.
We told the employer just how difficult life has been for staff since the pandemic began. We work tirelessly for Albertans day in and day out, but we are all stressed and burned out from COVID and from the Kenney government’s constant disdain and negligence. His government’s failure to take even the basic steps to fight COVID impacts us, our families, our colleagues, and all Albertans.
We said all this disrespect and hardship makes it extremely difficult to even consider concessions at the bargaining table.
AHS told us they would return with a new package of proposals on Monday, September 13. While this includes the possibility of AHS taking back their proposed concessions, your negotiating team is unsure of what this new package might include.
Stay tuned for a new bargaining update once we receive these proposals from AHS. Please reach out to your negotiating team representative or AUPE resource staff if you have any questions.
AHS Nursing Care Negotiating Team
Local 041
Christine Vavrik - rvavrik@shaw.ca
Myrna Wright (A) - merite77@shaw.ca
Local 043
Judy Fader - local4308@gmail.com
Local 044
Brenda Bailer - brendabailer@gmail.com
Laurie Johnson (A) - rycehome5@gmail.com
Local 045
Nancy Burton - ndburton@hotmail.com
Angela Smyth (A) - angelscare@shaw.ca
Local 046
Sandy Kyle sandyg.kyle@gmail.com
Pauline (PJ) Clarke (A) - ebonysmurf@mail.com
AUPE Resource Staff
Jason Rattray, Lead Negotiator - j.rattray@aupe.org
Chris Dickson, Negotiator - c.dickson@aupe.org
Darcy Thiessen, Organizer - d.thiessen@aupe.org
Farid Iskandar, Organizer - f.iskandar@aupe.org
Kate Jacobson, Organizer - k.jacobson@aupe.org
Mimi Williams, Communications - m.williams@aupe.org