HSAA - AHS Bargaining Update #1
TO:
All HSAA Members employed by Alberta Health Services, Bethany Nursing Home of Camrose and Lamont Health Care Centre (United Church of Canada)
RE:
Here we go! AHS bargaining update #1
Hi Kelly,
Welcome to the first of what could be a long list of bargaining updates for 2020. This round of negotiations is going to be like none ever seen before in Alberta. We want to begin by thanking the dozens of HSAA members who volunteered to serve as part of the HSAA’s bargaining committee. There were many factors HSAA's Board of Directors considered before determining who would be chosen for the committee – such as geographic location, health sector employment (community, acute, etc.), experience, Union involvement and HSAA District.
We are pleased to announce the members of the HSAA’s Bargaining Committee.
Committee Chair (Board) Leanne Alfaro, EEG Technologist II
Edmonton (Board) Donna Farquharson, Respiratory Therapist I
South (Board) Jason Soklofske, Advanced Care Paramedic
North (Member-at-Large) Ilea Kapler, MRT I
Edmonton (Member-at-Large) Jenalyn Myggland, Occupational Therapist I
Calgary (Member-at-Large) Linda Van Haar, Social Worker II
South (Member-at-Large) Trevor Puritch, Primary Care Paramedic
Central (Member-at-Large) Wayne Button, Public Health Inspector I
Lead Spokesperson Marnie Stuart, Labour Relations Officer
Spokesperson Kate Robinson, Labour Relations Officer
Administrative Assistant, Negotiations Sheena Schiemann
Preparations are underway for our upcoming bargaining dates which are tentatively set for:
April 2/3 – proposal exchange
April 14/15
May 12/13
May 20/21
June 16/17
June 24/25
We’ve mentioned how this is shaping up to be a round of negotiations the likes of which have never been seen before in Alberta. An indicator of that is the proposal exchanges we have already seen for the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA) and the Alberta Teachers Association (ATA). First, the proposals from the employers were basic carbon copies to both organizations and they contained a detailed listing of monetary issues, something that normally does not happen at this stage. Secondly, UNA made the decision to publicly post the proposal presented to them.
While HSAA is carefully considering the public and media relations approach we will take during bargaining, there is one thing we want to make perfectly clear. Our focus and priority will be engaging and communicating with members to ensure you have the very latest information and we are accurately representing you at the bargaining table.
You will soon be getting an email with a member’s pre-bargaining survey where you will be able to tell us the issues you want us to focus on at the table. The launch date for the survey is tentatively set for Monday, February 10 and it will remain open for two weeks to help make sure the maximum number of members can fill it out.
Tentative Launch Date – February 10, 2020
Tentative Close Date - February 24, 2020
*PLEASE NOTE: The survey will be sent to all active HSAA members with a personal email address on file with the HSAA. To submit or update your email address call the Member's Resource Centre at 1-844-280-4722, email membership@hsaa.ca or update your member profile through your HSAA Member Hub.
Our Wage Re-opener
The dates have been set for us to appear before an arbitrator and settle the wage re-opener on our current contract. We will be sitting down with an arbitrator on Monday, January 27 and Monday, February 10. A reminder, arbitrators have recently ruled for a 0% increase for both the ATA and UNA.
Our starting position heading into arbitration is for a 5% increase for the final year of our deal. We were originally informed by Alberta Health Services (AHS) that it would be seeking a 0% increase as it’s opening position. That position was overridden by the current government and AHS is now seeking a 5% rollback of your wages.
We will continue to keep you updated on the wage re-opener as events unfold.
