Strike avoided as deal reached
Labour unrest at Edith Cavell has been avoided following the ratification of a tentative agreement by members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) working at the care centre and the facility’s owner, Chantelle Management.
“A strike is not something we wanted so this is a welcomed conclusion,” said Bonnie Gostola, AUPE vice-president. “We’re pleased an agreement could be reached both sides find acceptable.”
AUPE represents more than 120 auxiliary nursing and support staff at the southern Alta., seniors’ facility.
Members will receive a three per cent wage increase during the life of the two-year agreement, which is retroactive to 2015. Improvements to shift and weekend premiums and the health spending account were also made, said the union.
“The agreement reached was very similar to the mediator’s report the union accepted in August, but the employer rejected in September,” said AUPE negotiator Dale Perry.
On Nov. 7, the union was forced to file a strike vote application against Edith Cavell as a result of the employer’s repeated refusal to come to the bargaining table with a fair and reasonable offer, according to the union.
Edith Cavell is a private, for-profit company based in British Colombia that receives public funding from Alberta Health Services to operate.
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union with more than 90,000 members province-wide. More than half work in public, private and not-for-profit health care.
