Union Outraged by Arbitration Award
UNION OUTRAGED BY ARBITRATION AWARD
The ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES is condemning a contract settlement imposed on health care workers in the Alberta government by a Compulsory Arbitration Board.
Members of AUPE Local 10 who work in provincially-run institutions such as prisons and the Michener Centre in Red Deer were given an award yesterday by Arbitrator John Moreau that essentially imposes a "pattern of settlement" established almost two years ago for other Locals in the Government Service.
Besides providing a 2.3% increase effective September 1, 1997, 2.25% effective September 1, 1998, and the return of 3 unpaid days at Christmas, the award prescribes an adjustment of 2 pay grades for all "nursing-related" occupations, which excludes Pharmacists and Rehabilitation Practitioners who comprise the majority of Local 010 members. It also allows the same 2% "achievement bonus" received by other Government Service employees.
According to Union Representative Ron Hodgins, this Award matches exactly the last offer tabled by Government at the bargaining table. "It proves conclusively that our members can't expect justice from the compulsory arbitration process," he said.
"We went to arbitration in July asking for nothing more than parity with other workers in Alberta, doing identical work, and we weren't even allowed to make our case. After that, all of our arguments were simply a waste of breath; the arbitrator was obviously listening only to the employer."
AUPE Researcher Tom Fuller, agrees, "From the Union's point of view, this was a textbook case; we couldn't have asked for a case that would allow us to make a clearer argument for comparability," he said.
"We were able to show conclusively that health care workers doing exactly the same jobs in hospitals, are being paid much higher rates. We went even further to show that several hundred Local 10 members who were transferred to the Provincial Mental Health Board six months ago, all received wage increases to match hospital wages on the very day they were transferred."
"We argued that the provincial economy was much stronger today than at any time since the late 1970's. Finally, we said that a Government that has just run five successive surpluses totalling over $8 billion could well afford to treat its own employees fairly."
AUPE President Dan MacLennan says this Award proves the entire framework provided for public sector interest arbitration is based in favour of employers and is a process unions should always try to avoid.
"Our case wasn't ever in question," said MacLennan. "What was in question was the Public Service Employee Relations Act, and the whole notion of 'impartial' arbitration boards." "When it comes to interest arbitration's, there is no fair process available to our members."
"The Law says that these workers can't strike. If they are seeking justice and fairness, it orders them to get it from an arbitrator. That's why Local 010 took its search for fair treatment to arbitration, after two years of employer 'stonewalling' at the bargaining table."
"By taking away any hope of obtaining justice through the legal process, all they have done is lay the basis for serious labour problems in the months ahead."
"They have done irreparable damage to the credibility of this process. Over 35,000 AUPE members are going to the bargaining table next year. If they avoid the arbitration process completely, and take matters into their own hands, the arbitration process, arbitrators themselves and the Government of Alberta will have to take most of the blame."
For further information call:
Ron Hodgins, Negotiator at 780-930-3344 or 1-800-232-7284
Tom Fuller, Researcher at 780-930-3365 or 1-800-232-7284
Dan MacLennan, President at 780-930-3301 or 1-800-232-7284