Further wage cuts planned for some classifications
Negotiations between your Government Services Bargaining Committee (GSBC) and the employer began again yesterday (Wed., Nov. 5) after an eight-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Government of Alberta (GOA) is now seeking bigger wage rollbacks than it had previously announced. It is proposing a four-year deal, with a wage cut in the first year, followed by a three-year freeze :
- Year 1: Minus 4%
- Year 2: 0%
- Year 3: 0%
- Year 4: 0%
This is an escalation of the employer’s opening proposal of a one-per-cent rollback followed by three years of zeroes.
Your negotiating team’s reaction
This is unacceptable. The GSBC is considering whether to file a complaint of bargaining in bad faith with the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB).
More wage cuts proposed
Under the pretense of “market adjustments” the GOA also proposed additional wage rollbacks of 2.79 per cent for the Program Services 3 and 3.03 per cent for the Program Services 4 classifications in Local 002.
Other classifications currently being reviewed for “market adjustments” are the Natural Resources 6,7,8 and 9 classifications in Local 005.
Your negotiating team’s view
This is also unacceptable. “Market adjustments” had not prevented the government from proceeding with its massive tax giveaway to already profitable corporations at a cost of nearly $5 billion.
In fact, the government sped up the corporate tax breaks as a result of the effects of the oil-price collapse and the pandemic on the economy. However, those tax giveaways have failed to create the jobs the government promised.
In fact, the government revealed in its disclosure letter last month that it is looking to shed up to 930 jobs.
If you receive layoff of position abolishment notices, please contact your Membership Service Officer (MSO) immediately. Call 1-800-232-7284 or click here: https://www.aupe.org/contact-member-resource-centre.
Other bargaining items
All other monetary rollbacks (e.g. shift differential, weekend premium, elimination of Christmas closure etc.) in the GOA’s ingoing proposals remain on the table for negotiations.
Ten non-contentious items were signed off by the parties.
What’s next?
Negotiations are scheduled to continue Nov. 12 and 13.
Your elected representatives on the GSBC (listed below) are committed to continuing to bargain hard to protect and enhance your rights, benefits and pay in the collective agreement.
Obviously, this is a challenging round of negotiations and we need and appreciate the ongoing awareness and support of the members.
Please stay tuned to the website and your email inboxes for further updates following the next bargaining dates of Nov. 12 and 13.
To read the original proposals from both sides when bargaining began in February, click here.
Your Government Services Bargaining Committee (GSBC)
Rebecca Leblanc, Local 001, leblare@gmail.com
Andrea Waywanko, Local 002, waywaa@hotmail.com
Dax Lydiard, Local 003, 003bargaining@gmail.com
Steve Eagles, Local 004, s-eagles@shaw.ca
Randy Ramsden, Local 005, r.a.ramsden@hotmail.com
Donna Smith, Local 006, xsmith@telus.net
Angela Pala, Local 009, rossieyork@shaw.ca
Ken Podulsky (GSBC Vice-chair), Local 012, pudley68@telus.net
AUPE staff resources
Dale Perry, negotiations spokesperson, d.perry@aupe.org
Merryn Edwards, negotiations spokesperson, m.edwards@aupe.org
Farris Sobhani, organizer, f.sobhani@aupe.org
Madelaine Sommers, organizer, m.sommers@aupe.org
Terry Inigo-Jones, communications, t.inigo-jones@aupe.org