Your negotiating team pushes for more, including employment security
Your negotiating team met with the employer on Jan. 14 and received a monetary offer that dropped all the rollbacks that had originally been proposed and offered some wage increases.
However, the proposed wage increases would not take place until 2023.
We responded with a proposal for modest improvements in addition to wages, including:
• Improved safety footwear allowance;
• Improved flexible health-spending account;
• Financial compensation for employees working from home; and
• Recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a paid holiday.
We also discussed employment security, which is a priority for members after the last round of layoffs at the college, but the employer’s negotiators say this is “outside of their mandate.”
Bargaining will continue on March 23 and 24.
Negotiations for an essential services agreement (ESA) will be going ahead. An ESA must be in place if bargaining for a new collective agreement is to proceed to mediation.
Your negotiating team wants to express its solidarity for workers at Concordia University Edmonton, who began strike action on Jan. 4. The strike ended after 11 days with the workers ratifying a new collective agreement that includes salary gains, improved workloads and job security.
The issues faced there are similar to those faced by many Alberta post-secondary institutions and the workers have received widespread support from across the province.
Sometimes, it is necessary for workers to take direct job action to get a fair deal. When that happens, solidarity helps to get a fair deal.
Your Portage College negotiating team
Nancy Litzenberger: 780-404-6844 or nancyjl@telusplanet.net
Darlene Uganecz: 780-246-5571 or darlene.uganecz@gmail.com
Linda Uliac: 780-227-5833 or linda.ulliac@gmail.com
Alternate:
Kerry Davies: 403-829-7013 or cobalt65@gmail.com
AUPE staff resources
Merryn Edwards, negotiator: m.edwards@aupe.org
Scott Drake, organizer: s.drake@aupe.org
Terry Inigo-Jones, communications: t.inigo-jones@aupe.org