(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

7 institutions

Arbitrator awards workers at Red Deer College pay increase

Mar 27, 2021 | 10:50 AM

An arbitrator has rejected rollbacks proposed by the United Conservative government, meantime awarding a pay increase for unionized education workers.

The decision affects workers at several post-secondary institutions, including Red Deer College, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Norquest College, Athabasca University, University of Lethbridge, Lakeland College and Northern Lakes College.

The increase amounts to one per cent as opposed to a two per cent cut in worker salaries, according to the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

“Once again, an independent arbitrator has thoroughly rejected rollbacks for public sector workers,” said Kevin Barry, a vice-president of AUPE. “Independent experts agree that rollbacks don’t make economic sense. Experts are telling this government, once again, that ideology and economics are spelled differently.”

More than 2,300 workers are impacted by the decision, and they can expect a retroactive payment reflecting hours worked between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020.

Last seen March 31

Missing: Eugenie Headman, 66, of Maskwacis

Apr 04, 2026

mayor hopes to meet housing minister this month

Alberta demands Ottawa back off on housing funding stripped from Red Deer

Apr 02, 2026

Last seen Jan. 15

Missing: Courtney Cattleman, 17, of Maskwacis

Apr 02, 2026

“This government has been on an ideological crusade to dismantle public services and turn Alberta into a low-wage nightmare,” Barry adds. “They say they want to grow the economy. But the economy is people. It’s workers. And you can’t make the economy grow by making workers more poor and more desperate. We’re happy to see another expert repudiate that upside-down agenda, and concretely improve the lives of working people.”

Barry’s calls this win, “just the beginning,” adding that the AUPE will continue fighting to make sure education is a key part of Alberta’s future.