Workers in March voted to strike in necessary: AUPE
Following ratification votes held earlier this month, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) members employed by Legal Aid Alberta accepted a third-party mediator’s report forming a new collective agreement on May 18.
“We are pleased to finally see a solution to this long bargaining process and are proud of the determination shown by the nearly 70 AUPE members who work at Legal Aid Alberta,” said James Hart, AUPE Vice-President. “These members do valuable work that is crucial to ensuring our provincial justice system serves some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
The new agreement carries a two-year term, expiring March 31, 2019. The deal includes improvements to a number of areas, including better employer RRSP contributions, better health benefits, improvements to maternity and parental leave and the creation of a joint worksite health and safety committee, said the union.
In March, employees at Legal Aid Alberta voted in favour of striking if necessary, after their employer continuously refused to offer any improvements to their collective agreement, according to AUPE.
Hart noted that workers have been dealing with major reductions in staff, higher demand for services and increasing workloads, all of which have led to more burnout and stress.
AUPE is Alberta’s largest union representing more than 93,000 members province-wide.
