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By Connor Gunn/LethbridgeNewsNOW

AUPE ratifies new deal with Alberta government, increasing wages

Dec 14, 2021 | 10:03 AM

EDMONTON – The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) has agreed to a new deal with Alberta’s Government to help employees in the province.

The AUPE represents about 95,000 workers in the province, including about 22,000 direct government workers.

Approximately 46 per cent of those eligible to vote cast ballots. Of those, 91 per cent voted in favour of the new deal.

The agreement, which will expire March 31, 2024, includes:

• Employment Security for permanent staff will stay in effect until Dec. 31, 2022
• 1.25% salary increase effective Jan. 1, 2023
• Minimum 1.5% salary increase with potential for additional 0.5% increase based on economic factors effective Sept. 1, 2023
• 8% salary increase for employees performing duties as part of the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence (RAPID) Response force as a result of significant expansion of policing duties, responsibilities and risks. The 8% increase will be retroactive to April 1, 2021, and remain in place as long as RAPID exists

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Guy Smith, president of the AUPE, says members have worked hard for this new contract.

“While these negotiations proceeded, our members have worked through a deadly global pandemic while continuing to provide vital services to Albertans. We appreciate the determination our members displayed to support each other and their negotiating team. They stood strongly opposed to the proposed employer concessions and to secure a collective agreement that respects them and the services they provide.”

The government withdrew concessions it had been seeking which included:

• 4% salary rollback;
• Elimination of employment security;
• Significant reduction in shift differential pay;
• Significant reduction in weekend premium pay;
• Elimination of the paid Christmas closure days;
• Added benefit plan costs for employees;
• Reductions in overtime pay; and
• Reductions in the Health Spending Account (HSA) provisions.