UPDATE post Convention and important upcoming DATES

Hello Everyone:
Well another convention completed and this year we had it at the Shaw conference center.  I must say it sure was nice to have more room, and what a view over the River Valley.
So now the work starts again, as you may have been reading we are at a stand still with bargaining and both parties are taking the month of November to refocus.  With this time off we are having some Town Hall meetings so that the public and members can be informed of what is going on and to maybe spark the GOA to start bargaining and realize we are worth it!
We have posted the dates on this blog site, and are really need your support in attending these meeting.  Also there is a rally on Nov 3rd at 3:30 outside the 5010 building in Red Deer, we have a short window of opportunity to save Valley Park Manor to secure the desperately needed long-term care spaces! Again Please if you can, come and join us!

Our next council meeting is in Calgary Nov 25/26 at the Calgary office, please join us! 
We are hoping as well you can attend your work Christmas events, Local 009 supports these events with monies for meals ect... plus a small promotional item is handed out with annual calendars as well.  Please take the time to thank those hard working council members and work site contacts that will be organizing and passing out these items.  They do much of this on their own time, and I know I really appreciate their hard work!
For now I will leave you with these important dates which have been posted just before this blog or as well check on aupe.org site.  Hope to see you at one of these meeting!
Sis Bates
Local 009 Chair

Town Hall Meeting Dates

 
***North of Edmonton***
 
November 15th - Slave Lake @ 11 am - 2 pm  Elks Hall     400 6 Ave NE
 
November 15th - High Prairie @ 7 pm - 10 pm   High Prairie Provincial Bldg
 
November 16th - Peace River @ 7 pm - 10 pm   Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre @ downstairs ballroom
 
November 17th - Grande Prairie @ 7 pm - 10 pm   Holiday Inn Suites @ Salon A
 
November 18th - Whitecourt @ 11 am - 2 pm  Forest Interpretive Centre  3002  33 Street
 
***South of Calgary***
 
November 16th - Blairemore @ noon   TBA
 
November 16th - Lethbridge @ 7 pm - 10 pm  Ramada Hotel & Suites
 
November 17th - Brooks @ 12 noon - 1 pm  Brooks Provincial Bldg  Suite 100, 600 Cassils Road East
 
November 17th - Medicine Hat @ 7 pm - 10 pm  Medicine Hat Exhibition @ Grandstand Banquet Room  2055  21Ave.
 
November 18th - Drumheller @ 1130 am - 130 pm  Drumheller Civic Centre  224 Centre Street
 
November 24th - Red Deer @ 7 pm - 10 pm  Red Deer Lodge
 
November 25th - Calgary @ 7 pm - 10 pm  Deerfoot Inn & Casino @ Sundance Room B & C  1000, 11500 35 St. SE
 
December 1st - Edmonton @ 7 pm - 10 pm  Deltal South Hotel & Suites @ Empire Royal Room
 

Convention 2010

No movement reported in 13 days of negotiations with provincial government

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees General Service Bargaining Committee has now spent 13 days of bargaining without seeing meaningful compromise or movement by the Government of Alberta.

The employer has not changed its initial position calling for no pay increases and a freeze on incremental increases through the life of a three-year agreement. The employer also refuses to consider changes to non-monetary portions of the agreement that would help bring it into accord with other similar collective agreements.

As a consequence, the GSBC will schedule town hall meetings in November with AUPE members employed directly by the government to discuss the next moves in this round of bargaining.

The meetings will take place in Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Grande Prairie on dates and at locations that will be announced as soon as possible. AUPE members should keep their eye on the union’s website — aupe.org — for updates on these important events.

The typical timeframe for resolving a master agreement with the provincial government on behalf of AUPE’s approximately 22,000 direct government employees has historically been 20 to 25 bargaining days. That the union and the government’s bargaining representatives have now had 13 days of face-to-face negotiations without significant movement is strong evidence of the employer’s unwillingness to treat its employees with respect or accept new ideas in the collective agreement that could resolve this impasse.

For example, beyond AUPE’s call for a pay increase of 4 per cent in the first year and 5 per cent in the second year of a two-year agreement, the union has also introduced proposals to address the heavy workloads being experienced by union members. The employer indicates, however, that there will be no significant growth in staffing levels in the Alberta public service.

The employer has made it clear they have no intention of addressing workload issues now or in the foreseeable future and that in their view the public service hiring freeze must continue.

Government negotiators are taking this position despite acknowledgment from the provincial cabinet that government employees are overworked. In a CBC Radio story broadcast Oct. 4, AUPE President Guy Smith stated that “going around the province and talking to staff, the one issue that’s common to all of them is the lack of staffing out there on the front lines.” Treasury Board President Lloyd Snelgrove responded by saying, “I agree with them on that point. I hear that too.”

However, as of now all the employer has been prepared to do is review AUPE’s proposals and ask for clarification on some items.

The situation in bargaining is otherwise unchanged from the circumstances described to direct government employees in its Bargaining Updates on Oct. 1 and Sept. 24.

It remains the view of the GSBC and the leadership of AUPE that the position taken by the employer is not acceptable and that the government must consider real economic conditions in Alberta when negotiating salary levels with its employees, and that it must also consider agreements in other jurisdictions and with other Alberta employers on the form the agreement will ultimately take.

A Message to AUPE General Service members directly employed by the Alberta Government

During three additional days of bargaining this week, negotiators for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and the Government of Alberta exchanged additional information on their proposals in hopes of fostering a better understanding of their respective positions.

In addition, the parties have scheduled additional bargaining days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 6-8.

Bargaining between AUPE and the employer for a new collective agreement got off to a difficult start after the parties exchanged proposals on Sept. 13, with the employer taking an opening position of no pay increases and a freeze on incremental increases through the life of a three-year agreement.

In addition, the Government of Alberta refused to consider changes to contract language that AUPE believes are required to bring the agreement into the 21st Century.

After two days of bargaining on Sept. 21 and 22, the employer’s position was sharply at variance with AUPE’s, with the union calling for pay increases of 4 per cent in the first year of a two-year agreement, and 5 per cent in the second.

The union argues such pay increases are entirely justified by current economic conditions in Alberta, where the average provincial weekly wage is currently rising at a rate of about 3.5 per cent.

AUPE is also seeking a significant number of important changes to contract language affecting such areas as seniority, job classifications, pensions, layoff and recall provisions, health benefits, pay structure, promotions and transfers.

The General Service Bargaining Committee (GSBC), which represents the approximately 22,000 Albertans who are directly employed by the Alberta Government.

The previous three-year agreement expired on Aug. 31, but will continue to be in effect until a new agreement is reached.

Members of the GSBC will be working closely with the local negotiating teams representing direct government employees to ensure that members are involved and are kept up to date on developments.

A Message to AUPE General Service members directly employed by the Alberta Government

During three additional days of bargaining this week, negotiators for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and the Government of Alberta exchanged additional information on their proposals in hopes of fostering a better understanding of their respective positions.

In addition, the parties have scheduled additional bargaining days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 6-8.

Bargaining between AUPE and the employer for a new collective agreement got off to a difficult start after the parties exchanged proposals on Sept. 13, with the employer taking an opening position of no pay increases and a freeze on incremental increases through the life of a three-year agreement.

In addition, the Government of Alberta refused to consider changes to contract language that AUPE believes are required to bring the agreement into the 21st Century.

After two days of bargaining on Sept. 21 and 22, the employer’s position was sharply at variance with AUPE’s, with the union calling for pay increases of 4 per cent in the first year of a two-year agreement, and 5 per cent in the second.

The union argues such pay increases are entirely justified by current economic conditions in Alberta, where the average provincial weekly wage is currently rising at a rate of about 3.5 per cent.

AUPE is also seeking a significant number of important changes to contract language affecting such areas as seniority, job classifications, pensions, layoff and recall provisions, health benefits, pay structure, promotions and transfers.

The General Service Bargaining Committee (GSBC), which represents the approximately 22,000 Albertans who are directly employed by the Alberta Government.

The previous three-year agreement expired on Aug. 31, but will continue to be in effect until a new agreement is reached.

Members of the GSBC will be working closely with the local negotiating teams representing direct government employees to ensure that members are involved and are kept up to date on developments.