Retroactive wage increases and important language improvements
As you know, our previous collective agreement expired December 31, 2018 and we commenced negotiations with the employer in May, 2019. After several meetings found us unable to reach a tentative agreement, we engaged in voluntary mediation in October, 2021.
After mediation failed to bring resolution to several outstanding items, independent arbitrator Ms. Mia Norrie was appointed as the one-member Compulsory Arbitration Board to settle the dispute in November, 2021.
Further negotiations were held on July 7, 2022 to try resolve the impasse, with no progress made. Ms. Norrie’s award, which settled outstanding items remaining in dispute, was issued on February 10, 2023, after she considered written submissions from both parties.
The entire arbitration award can be found here.
Highlights
Term
The term of the agreement is January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023.
Wage Increases
- Jan 1, 2019 two (2.0%) percent
- Jan 1, 2020 two (2%) percent
- Jan 1, 2021 one point seventy five (1.75%) percent
- Jan 1, 2022 one point seventy five (1.75%) percent
- Jan 1, 2023 one point twenty five (1.25%) percent
All payments shall be retroactive and made to employees within sixty (60) days of the award.
Shift Premiums
All premiums in Articles 16.01 and 16.03 are increased by $0.25 cents per hour.
Sick Leave Carryover
As set out in Article 22, the Employer has agreed to honour the wording of the collective agreement. Going forward, employees will have the right to carry unused sick leave over to the following year without limitation. You can read the entire memorandum of agreement on sick leave here.
Retirement Savings Plan
All employees in positions of zero point thirty-nine (0.39) FTE or greater will now be eligible to participate in the plan upon completion of probation.
Signing Bonus
$200 for Full Time employees; $100 for Part Time
Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
Increase benefit to $50,000 from $30,000
Uniform Allowance
The Employer shall provide a uniform allowance for all employees who are required by the Employer to wear a uniform which shall be paid at the rate of eight cents ($0.08) per hour worked, paid on a bi-weekly basis. Before the effective date (within 60 days of the award), and to enable a smooth transition to the Uniform allowance, the employer will supply 1 more uniform to impacted employees as follows:
- Dietary Aide - one apron and tie for all Dietary Aide.
- HCAs and LPNs - one tunic and vest
- Housekeepers - one tunic
- Cooks - one jacket
There is also new, improved language preventing non-bargaining union work if it displaces any bargaining unit employees and an agreement that the Employer shall not unreasonably deny authorization for LPNs after the fact for overtime worked where such overtime arises as a result of unforeseeable circumstances in which it is impossible to obtain prior authorization.
In addition, when an Employee is assigned by their immediate supervisor to replace another Employee in a higher paid classification for a full or partial shift or longer, she shall be paid the Basic Rate of Pay for the classification in which the Employee is relieving, providing she is qualified to perform the substantive duties of the higher paid classification.
The road to renewing our collective agreement has been long and we want to thank all members for their patience and support as the process unfolded. With improvements to the language in the agreement, it is important that management be held to account in adhering to them. If you feel that the employer is not honouring the terms of the agreement please reach out to your Membership Services Officer by calling 1-800-232-7284.
Our Annual General Meeting will take place on March 13, 2023 in the Wellness Room on the 2nd Floor from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. We hope to see you there.
If you have coworkers who do not receive our updates via email, please encourage them to update their contact information at: aupe.org/updateinfo. Please do not hesitate to reach out to a member of your negotiating team or AUPE staff if you have any questions.
AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – REVERA THE EDGEMONT
Maria Rita Canave
mariaritasamiley@yahoo.com or 403-614-8707
Rosario Boque
rosarioboque1@gmail.com or 403-918-4960
Almaz Sherefa
almazsefera@gmail.com or 587-889-3035
Kim Lim
kimlim60@gmail.com or 403-547-5076
AUPE RESOURCE STAFF
James Mitchell, Negotiations
j.mitchell@aupe.org
Bill Rigutto, Disputes & Arbitrations
b.rigutto@aupe.org
Michelle Szalynski, Organizing
m.szalynski@aupe.org
Dave Malka, Organizing (Disputes & Arbitrations)
d.malka@aupe.org
Mimi Williams, Communications
m.williams@aupe.org