By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

"a big win"

AUPE applauds “big win” for Michener Centre workers

May 2, 2021 | 12:16 PM

Front-line workers at Red Deer’s Michener Centre have earned a victory thanks to a policy-grievance arbitration decision handed down last week.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) shares it was on April 30 when the Alberta Labour Relations Board determined the the Government of Alberta violated its own single-site order by implementing the measure in an, “unfair, unilateral and unreasonable manner.”

The decision stems from a situation in summer 2020 when it was reported by the AUPE that approximately 50 workers, including licensed practical nurses, were owed backpay.

On June 19, the AUPE filed its first complaint, and then a second on Aug. 24, with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, alleging that the employer hadn’t followed through on the terms of its own single-site work order.

Labour Minister Jason Copping signed the order on April 10 that states when employees choose one site, the employer(s) they didn’t choose is supposed to put them on a leave of absence, maintain pension and benefits, and allow the employee to return once the health order is lifted.

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The employer they did choose was then to give workers priority access to additional hours or supplement their pay to make up for what they lost at the others.

The AUPE now says that situation affected up to 90 staff, depriving each of them of thousands of dollars of income.

The employer is now required to negotiate appropriate compensation with the staff and union while the single-site order remains in place.

“This is a big win for vulnerable workers everywhere who love providing compassionate care, but don’t make enough money doing it and have to stretch themselves thin across multiple jobs just to feed their families,” says AUPE Vice-President Bonnie Gostola.

“The whole purpose of the Order was to protect the sick, the disabled and their caregivers from the devastating financial and health effects of COVID. But at Michener, the UCP weaponized it to reduce the income of frontline heroes. They exploited their power as politicians, at the cost of the care system that Albertans living with disabilities depend on. It’s hypocritical and shameful.”

Gostola says some workers had to defer mortgage payments, borrow money from family, deplete live savings, or utilize emergency AUPE benefits.

“Thanks to members telling their stories, justice was served today at the ALRB,” says Gostola. “We’ve set a precedent and proved our PDD members are just as critical as frontline healthcare staff. They should get the same protections, including the vaccine!”