Other AUPE Services
As an AUPE member you maybe entitled to any or all of the following
services or benefits:
...Member Benefit Fund
...AUPE Bursaries
...Communications and Publicity
...Education
...Labour Relations
...Contract Negotiations
...Occupational Health & Safety Committee
...Member Discounts
Members Benefit Fund
The members' Benefits Fund, administered by a committee of AUPE
members, has been created to help union employees facing emergency
situations, and who qualify for financial assistance.
If you face an emergency arising from a job-related situation, you can
seek help from the fund by approaching your union steward or staff
representative. Only they can submit requests for assistance on your
behalf. The committee will review and consider each application on its
own merits. Each case is kept strictly confidential.
AUPE Bursaries
Each year the Education Sub-Committee of the AUPE Members Benefits
Committee offers bursaries to AUPE members is good standing, their
spouse or other dependents, from the Members Education Assistance
Fund.
The bursary is awarded to students in full-time studies who meet the
certain qualifications and whose course selection meets the
committee's criteria. The student applies for a bursary directly
through their chosen education institution, or by obtaining an
application form from AUPE's headquarters in Edmonton.
Education
AUPE's Education Program is responsible for developing and delivering
education courses to members and officers in support of their role
they perform in their Union. AUPE also organizes and facilitates
Conferences about labour-relations issues that affect our membership.
AUPE offers courses throughout the year. The courses are intended to
increase the union's presence at the workplace, and to represent our
members' interests more effectively. Detailed course outlines and
schedules can be found on the AUPE website or by contacting your
regional office for more details.
Labour Relations
AUPE's labour relations staff are trained to solve problems in a wide
range of areas. Among their areas of expertise are: interpreting
contracts, insurance appeals, benefit plan problems, assistance to
disabled and injured workers, issues concerning a return to work after
a period of receiving long-term disability benefits, pensions, and
many other employment issues that may arise.
They have the legal and technical expertise to make sure employers
observe the terms of the contract, and to represent you in appeals
when a resolution to a dispute cannot be reached. They may also advise
AUPE members in obtaining fair and just treatment in appeals to the
Workers Compensation Board.
For safety concerns, members can contact their worksite health and
safety committee representative or a staff representative.
Contract Negotiations
The prinicipal job of the AUPE is to negotiate collective agreements.
AUPE has been negotiating contracts for years, and has the experts and
the experience to get the best possible contracts. Wage increases,
hours of work, overtime pay, statutory holidays, sick leave, pensions,
insurance benefits, layoff and recall rules - all these and many more
benefits are won through the negotiation process. And it's you, the
members, who decide the goals and priorties for negotiations.
Occupational Health & Safety Committee
Worksite Health and Safety Committees are established at AUPE
locations, which are defined as worksites, where there are employees
that are other than administrative. The purpose of the Occupational
Health & Safety Committee is to continuously review the practices and
procedures of these worksites, as exercised by members of the union,
relating to workplace health and safety. The committee will also
promote health and safety education, by making available to members,
presentations and training modules on new legislation, that have been
developed by Workplace Health & Safety - Alberta Human Resources and
Employment.
Member Discounts
AUPE member discounts are special prices offered to AUPE members by
businesses and organizations for goods and services. AUPE has made
arrangements with a number of businesses - from hotels to legal
services to automotive dealerships - that offer significant savings to
AUPE members.
Please check AUPE website for further information on AUPE Member Discounts.
