GSBC essential services agreement, little movement in bargaining prompts large gathering of local leaders
For more than a year, the Government Services Bargaining Committee (GSBC) has worked vigorously to achieve a new collective bargaining agreement with the Government of Alberta for the more than 23,000 front-line government services workers represented by AUPE.
"It''s been a challenging and at times frustrating round of negotiations," said AUPE President Guy Smith. "Since bargaining began, we''ve met with the employer close to 40 times and put forward a number of comprehensive proposals around important contract language and monetary items.
"Unfortunately, the employer has refused to fully respond and satisfactorily address key issues like job security, workload, contracting out, contracting in, wage equity and monetary proposals," Smith said.
However, even though progress at the bargaining table has been measured, in late March the Essential Services Commissioner approved an essential services agreement (ESA), which governs the terms of legal job action. It''s the first ESA of this scale reached in the province.
The requirement for an ESA is the result of new labour relations legislation passed in the Alberta legislature in 2016. Bill 4: An Act to Implement a Supreme Court Ruling Governing Essential Services restored the right to strike for all public sector employees. Until then, there was a blanket ban preventing public sector workers from exercising their fundamental right to strike in the case of a bargaining dispute.
"Many of the changes included in the bill had been advocated for by AUPE and other unions for many years and help level the playing field in bargaining by giving workers like those in government services more strength at the table," Smith said.
It also means the most essential services in Alberta are not interrupted in the case of job action, which is why the law requires an ESA be agreed to before bargaining can enter mediation or a strike vote.
"The ESA could be enacted should negotiations with the government reach an impasse and result in a strike or lockout," Smith added. "Of course, coming to an agreement at the bargaining table and preventing any sort of job action is always the goal."
So, with the ESA signed, the GSBC organized a large, two-day summit of Government Services Local Councils on June 12 and 13 in Edmonton to provide a detailed update on the state of bargaining, along with an in-depth presentation of the ESA.
"It''s crucial for us to ensure worksite leaders, activists and members have all the information they need on the status of negotiations, on the ESA agreed to in spring and what issues remain unresolved," Smith said.
"A number of strategies for engagement and mobilization were discussed, as well as planning potential next steps in an effort to secure a fair agreement that values the work these members do to support Albertans every day."
An application for mediation made by the government has been granted. Mediator Andy Sims has been assigned and mediation began June 15.