Lacombe Foundation Employees “overwhelmingly” support new contract

Lacombe Foundation employees say they have voted “overwhelmingly” in favor of a two-year collective agreement providing retroactive wage increases and other improvements.

The 80 affected employees work at Lacombe Lodge and Eckville Manor House as lodge attendants including dietary and laundry staff, cooks, maintenance staff, activity coordinators, and healthcare aides. All Lacombe Foundation employees have been represented by Retail, Healthcare, and Service Employees Union (CLAC Local 301) since December 2010.

“Bargaining for this round of negotiations was prolonged and difficult,” said Juliann Mans, CLAC representative. “Our initial settlement reached in August with the employer was rejected by the membership, and the union bargaining committee went back to the table to secure further improvements. The new agreement was strongly supported by the membership, with 86 percent voting in favour.”

The new contract provides a one percent wage increase retroactive to January 2022, 1.5 percent for 2023, and a wage review for 2024.