Three-year AUPE contract awarded to Alberta Health Services support staff

CALGARY – An arbitrator has awarded health-care support staff in Alberta a new three-year contract that includes pay increases and more benefits.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says it didn’t get everything it wanted in the contract, which is retroactive to April 2014.

Workers affected include staff in IT, records management, food services and facilities maintenance, as well as pharmacy and therapy assistants.

The union and Alberta Health Services negotiated for two years before the arbitrator awarded the contract.

Workers are to receive two per cent wage increases in the first and second years, plus a one per cent hike in the third.

The contract also includes an increase to their flex health-spending accounts.

Union president Guy Smith says talks included two rounds of mediation, two labour board complaints against AHS and final binding arbitration — all of which led to frustration and anger toward AHS and the provincial government.

He says he hopes fair agreements can be reached in negotiations underway with other health-care bargaining units.