In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in accordance with requirements of Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer (“CMO”) your AUPE Executive earlier postponed all in-person union meetings until the CMO determined it was acceptable for groups to gather. The province of Alberta is currently in the process of reopening under the guidance of its CMO.
Even as such reopening takes place, in an attempt to protect members and in order to minimize the spread of COVID-19, your AUPE Executive encourages members to continue to host virtual meetings rather than in-person meetings. Staying home and limiting person to person contact continues to be the best way to reduce your risk of exposure. Attending in-person meetings increases your risk of exposure and likelihood of contracting COVID-19.
However, where circumstances require in-person meetings between members for AUPE purposes, AUPE will permit those in-person meetings provided that any meeting shall be limited to a maximum of 50 people and provided such meeting can be held in compliance with all CMO meeting safety orders and recommendations including compliance with Social distancing protocols.
It is expected that the member organizing an in-person meeting will use reasonable efforts to ascertain and monitor the CMO meeting safety orders and recommendations for such meeting. However, each member participating in any such meeting does so at that member’s own risk and is responsible for maintaining their personal safety.
AUPE office buildings will remain closed to members and the public, until such time as AUPE management and staff, through the joint occupational health and safety committee, determine that an appropriate level of safety of staff and members can be maintained.
AUPE management will determine on a case by case basis when Membership Services Officers and other AUPE staff will be able to participate in in-person meetings with members. The cancellation of AUPE conferences, in-person education sessions, and events will remain in place until further notice as we continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic.
The following link may be used to access Alberta’s COVID-19 info for Albertans: https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx
We understand change can be hard to embrace, especially during these unique times. Feelings of frustration over being unable to do business as we once did, is normal. However, these measures reflect that the health and safety of our AUPE family, organization, and ultimately all of our loved ones, is our top priority.