The government of Alberta recently reached a new collective agreement with the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) that is likely to impact many government employees across the province.
Negotiations for the AUPE agreement began in November 2019, but were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, the two parties were able to come to a tentative agreement in August 2020, which was ratified by union members in September.
The new agreement includes a number of changes that will affect AUPE members. For example, there will be a two-year wage freeze, followed by a 1% increase in each of the following two years. This means that AUPE members will not receive a salary increase in 2020 or 2021, but will receive a small increase in 2022 and 2023.
In addition to the wage freeze, the new agreement also includes changes to benefits. For example, there will be an increase in the number of sick days that employees can take without requiring a medical certificate. This change is expected to benefit both employees and employers, as it will reduce the burden on medical professionals and allow employees to take time off when they need it.
Other changes included in the new agreement relate to job security. For example, there will be a new process for handling job vacancies, which will prioritize internal candidates and ensure that qualified employees have the opportunity to apply for new positions. This is expected to improve job stability for AUPE members and reduce the number of layoffs that occur across the government.
Overall, the new agreement between the government of Alberta and the AUPE is expected to have significant implications for government employees across the province. While some of the changes may be difficult for employees to accept, they are designed to improve job stability and create greater efficiency within the government. As such, it will be important for employees to familiarize themselves with the details of the agreement and prepare for any changes that may affect their job.