Some provincial workers worry wage increase is not enough after agreement approved

CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson has more on a new deal for AUPE workers and how the end of one labour dispute could impact another ongoing negotiation.

After more than a year of bargaining with the province, Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) members voted to approve a mediator’s recommendations on a new collective agreement late Wednesday, avoiding a potential strike.

Despite the 12 per cent wage increase over four years, some members say it’s not enough as the cost of living continues to rise.

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Lorraine Ellis, who has been an AUPE member since its inception and a provincial employee for 53 years, said many members are still 30 per cent behind the cost of living.

“We put forward time and time again how many members in AUPE are getting $500 to $700 rent increases, their insurance has gone up, their utilities have gone up, and they’re using the food bank,” Ellis told CTV News Edmonton Thursday. “I got so many emails from young mothers that are sending their children to Kindergarten and they can’t afford juice boxes or snacks.

“It breaks my heart as a public employee when I get those kinds of emails.”

Just over 63 per cent of AUPE members voted in favour of the collective agreement that offered a 12 per cent wage increase over four years for most employees, while 36.5 per cent opposed the agreement.

However, some workers in areas experiencing recruitment and retention issues, will receive wage increases ranging from 19 to 31 per cent over the life of the agreement.

AUPE president Guy Smith said it was likely that those who voted against the agreement were not part of the group to get additional pay on top of the general 12 per cent wage increase.

“At various times in bargaining, we talked to the employer saying ‘if this is the way you want to construct a deal … it would never get ratified because you’re actually dividing the workforce,’” said Smith. “There may be some healing that needs to be done … there usually is after a very challenging and complex round of bargaining.”

Ellis said plenty of members are going to continue to suffer under the agreement.

“I’m not sure the government is hearing what’s being said … I’ve had people tell me they’ve had to sell their cars to pay rent,” said Ellils. “It’s really a catastrophe that people in the legislature are not hearing the stories of the people they employ every single day that are working hard.”

Members overwhelmingly voted in favour of strike action in May following a standstill with the province where it offered an 11.5 per cent wage increase over four years while the union asked for 24 per cent.

After a mediator put forward recommendations in late-August, members took to the polls again. If the recommendations were struck down, the union would have gone on strike before Sept. 9.

The term of the agreement is from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2028. The province will pay all retroactive pay within 90 days.

AUPE represents about 23,000 workers in provincial jobs ranging from administration, law enforcement, social work and seasonal wildfire personnel.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson