AUPE members and other union representatives rallied in front of Red Deer Regional Hospital on Monday. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Canadian Press

BILL 9 INJUNCTION GRANTED

Judge grants AUPE injunction against Bill 9

Jul 31, 2019 | 5:45 AM

EDMONTON- Alberta’s largest union says a judge has ruled that wage arbitration hearings for ten of thousands of public sector workers can go ahead sooner rather than later.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says Justice Eric Macklin has granted its bid for an injunction preventing the United Conservative government from implementing the recently passed Public Sector Wage Arbitration Deferral Act.

Bill 9 calls for delaying contract provisions for reopened wage talks and binding arbitration for public-sector workers.

RELATED: Union members gather in Red Deer to protest UCP’s Bill 9

Under current collective agreements, arbitration hearings were to occur between now and the end of October.

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Union president Guy Smith says Macklin’s ruling means the arbitration hearings affecting thousands of government and Alberta Health Services workers will now take place on August 7.

Workers affected include nurses, social workers, hospital support staff, prison guards, conservation officers, toxicologists, restaurant inspectors, therapists and sheriffs.

Finance Minister Travis Toews says the government will appeal the ruling and seek an expedited hearing.

(The Canadian Press)