On Nov. 20 and 21, your bargaining team met with Emcon to begin bargaining for our collective agreement.
Since our last scheduled bargaining dates in September, when the employer came to the table unprepared to start the negotiations process, all twelve of our bargaining team members continued to meet and fine-tune our proposals and strategy. Last week, we were prepared to exchange these ingoing proposals. The employer was not.
Instead, they discussed their financial situation, increases to company costs (such as paint and other materials) and the limitations imposed by their $482-million contract with the Government of Alberta.
None of these items speak to your concerns or the improvements you’re pushing for to keep Alberta’s drivers and your coworkers safe.
Holding Emcon accountable.
The issues you identified in your bargaining surveys are too important to be sidelined like this. You’re the caretakers of close to half of the province’s highways; when you’re not protected, Albertans aren’t protected. As the driving force of Emcon’s services in this province, you should have a say in your working conditions.
When we requested the information we need to ensure you’re heard at the table so you can negotiate a fair and equitable collective agreement, Emcon refused to provide it. If they don’t respond to our requests in writing, our union is prepared to file an unfair labour practice complaint to the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB).
In the meantime, we plan on sharing a summary of your bargaining surveys with the employer. We spent the majority of the second bargaining day gathering your responses in order to do this. Your bargaining team has heard you, and we’re going to ensure Emcon hears you too.
Emcon has informed us they will have ingoing proposals ready for our next bargaining dates, which are yet to be determined.
If you have any questions, please reach out.
EMCON BARGAINING TEAM
Brad Guhle brguhle@hotmail.com or 780-678-4044
Bernie Quinn garry223@telus.net or 780-207-0597
Greg Jackson auxp2001@yahoo.ca or 780-206-7000
Robert Bancroft bancroftrd@gmail.com or 403-820-1776
RESOURCE STAFF
Jason Rattray Negotiator, j.rattray@aupe.org
Dave Malka Organizer, d.malka@aupe.org or 780-231-1800
Celia Shea Communications, c.shea@aupe.org or 780-720-8122