Your negotiating team met with Covenant Health on April 8 and 9 to begin negotiations. While our first meetings went as expected, we felt the employer disrespected the members and the important work we do.
The employer’s disrespect for us is most clearly demonstrated by their need to control us. It is difficult to work together, let alone negotiate a fair contract, when Covenant Health wants to remove rights we currently have in our collective agreement.
Covenant Health’s need for control is also reflected in their opening proposals.
Opening proposals
Your team is fighting for what members deserve, including compensation that reflects the rising cost of living and our ever-expanding scope of practice. We have proposed a two-year contract with the following wage increases:
Effective April1, 2024: 25% plus cost-of-living increases
Effective April 1, 2025: 10% plus cost-of-living increases
We have also proposed additional Scope of Practice and Market Adjustment wage increases:
Effective April 1, 2024: 20% increase for Licensed Practical Nurses—including Renal Dialysis and Connect Care trainers—Operating Room Technicians and Orthopaedic Technicians, and Personal Support Coordinators.
Effective April 1, 2024: 15% increase for Health Care Aides, Mental Health Aides, Recreation Aides, and Psychiatric Aides, Mental Health Therapy Assistants, Drop-In Centre Supervisors, Community Health Representative and Mental Health Support Workers, Physiotherapy Assistants, Rehabilitation Attendants, Rehabilitation Care Workers, and Client Care Assistants.
Covenant Health’s proposals, on the other hand, are uninspired. They offered us the same four-year deal that most other health care workers are receiving, including the following wage adjustments:
April 1, 2024 - 2%
April 1, 2025 - 2%
April 1, 2026 - 1.75%
April 1, 2027 - 1.75%
These wage proposals fall far short of what we deserve and what we need to keep up with the costs of living. The only improvement the employer proposed is increasing Preceptor pay from 65 cents to $1. Below is the list of rollbacks and disrespectful proposals the employer gave us:
Cutting pay for Orthopaedic Technicians;
Reducing the time between shifts from 15.5 hours to 15 hours;
Losing floater days that you do not book off, which are currently paid-out if we do not take them;
Removing ‘bumping’ from the layoff and recall processes;
Restrict temporary staff from applying for new positions until their current contract expires, as well as extend temporary contracts from 12 months to 24 months, denying them the benefits and rights granted to permanent staff.
No retroactive pay for former employees. This means if you leave Covenant Health before our new agreement is settled, the employer does not want to pay you the wage increases you would have earned while employed for the organization;
Although the employer compensates us properly for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, they have no interest in honouring this day by including it in our list of Named Holidays.
Some of the employer’s other proposals make it seem like the employer wants to diminish seniority rights throughout the collective agreement.
Your team was firm. We told the employer we will not accept any rollbacks. They were shocked. But we all work hard and deserve an agreement that reflects the value we bring to Covenant Health and the Albertans who depend on us. We deserve working conditions that get better, not worse.
Wear red on May 14
Our next bargaining meetings are scheduled for May 14. Be sure to wear red that day to support us! We are working hard to get the best agreement possible, and we greatly appreciate your solidarity.
All members are also encouraged to wear red on April 11 and 12 to support our Covenant Health General Support Services colleagues. Send your ‘wear red’ pictures to photos@aupe.org to be shared on the union’s social media pages.
Please contact a member of your negotiating team if you have any questions.
AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – COVENANT HEALTH NURSING CARE
Kathy Bandmann, Local 040
kbandmann@hotmail.com
Anita Henderson, Local 046
s69ahenderson@gmail.com
Beverley Hill, Local 040
bhill3095@gmail.com
Derrek Luu, Local 046
derrekluu@yahoo.ca
AUPE RESOURCE STAFF
Chris Dickson, Negotiations
c.dickson@aupe.org