The Government of Alberta and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) have agreed to return to the bargaining table in June after union members voted in favour of strike action earlier this month.
Negotiations are set to resume on June 2, with additional dates scheduled for June 3, 10, 11, 12 and 13. A mediator will be present to help facilitate an agreement between the sides.
The union represents approximately 23,000 provincial workers, who voted between May 8 and 12 on whether to authorize a strike if they were unable to reach an agreement. Eighty per cent of eligible members voted, and 90.1 per cent of members voted in favour of strike action.
In St. Albert, the potential strike could affect courthouse and provincial building operations. AUPE represents 85 workers in the city, including 11 sheriffs, 11 other courthouse staff and 63 employees at the provincial building. Of the 22 unionized staff members at the courthouse, several are expected to be designated as essential workers and exempt from participating in a strike. However, final decisions on essential service designations will be made by the employer.
Finance Minister Nate Horner said in a statement on May 23 the union has not been direct with its members and the strike vote will not provide more leverage at the bargaining table.
"We're certainly hoping that they're bringing a revised proposal beyond what we left it at before we took a strike vote," said Guy Smith, president of AUPE. "I'm hoping that because of our very, very strong support for a strike by our membership, that that will help the employer see that we're serious about this and that we do want to get a settlement at the table."
Smith said both parties need assistance coming together, which is where the mediator will be helpful. He said the union will know very early in negotiations, possibly even by the end of the day on June 2, whether the government is serious about reaching a deal.
He said the union would like to avoid a strike; however, it is prepared for one.
"We do have the legal right to strike now, with 72 hours notice to the employer, we're certainly prepared for it," said Smith. "We've been doing a lot of work internally identifying where picket lines will be across the province, and we've recruited what we're calling strike captains out of the membership who can help monitor and administer those lines so we're well-prepared."
Approximately 25 per cent of AUPE members are designated as essential workers and can not go on strike. Those with Essential Services Agreements are typically in health care or law enforcement, which could include court workers.
"I couldn't tell you if there would be a full complement of sheriffs or partial or how many at this point," said Smith. "With hundreds and hundreds of workplaces across the province, and each one having certain levels of designated essential services, it's hard to know certain locations, and also it's not been fully disclosed, at least publicly, where a lot of the law enforcement essential service levels are."
Heather Jenkins, press secretary to the minister of justice, said in an emailed statement, "In the event of labour disruption, courthouses are deemed an essential service and will continue to operate. However, there may be disruption in services."
Smith echoed her statement, saying that while essential service workers will continue to work, other services will be disrupted if a strike or lockout occurs. However, Smith said he believes neither side wants a strike to happen.
While wages are the central issue, Smith said members are also pushing for better working conditions.
"If AUPE leadership continues to be unreasonable and unrealistic, the situation could escalate to a strike by government workers or a government-initiated lockout. Neither option is desirable. I encourage AUPE leadership to come back to the table with realistic aspirations," said Horner in a statement.
Horner said AUPE is demanding a 29 per cent wage increase over four years; however, Smith disputed this, saying AUPE wants a 24 per cent wage increase over the same period.
If no agreement is reached, AUPE could serve a 72-hour strike notice to the employer at any point within the 120-day window following the strike vote, or the government could initiate a lockout.
