CALGARY – Twenty-five employees of Wheatland Lodge senior’s facility in Calgary have rejected raid attempts by another union, and gotten a better contract as a result.
The employees, members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) had been the target of a ‘raid’ campaign by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE). A raid occurs when one union attempts to sign up members of another.
AUPE officials met with some employees of Wheatland Lodge, and petitions circulated in the workplace. Not enough signatures were collected to force a vote. With the ratification of a new contract, the period in which AUPE can legally conduct a raid ends.
“This is the fifth time in two years AUPE has attempted a raid on CUPE,” said CUPE Alberta President D’Arcy Lanovaz. “And in that time, with all the money and energy spent on unions fighting unions, only 19 members have switched sides.”
“Raiding CUPE is a waste of time and resources – our two unions need to work together for the sake of our members.”
Lanovaz said that by staying with CUPE, Wheatland Lodge employees got a three-year contract with an assortment of wage improvements. The deal gives employees general wage increases of 3% each year, improvements in weekend and evening wages, a commitment to job evaluation and casual wages equal to other employees.
“Once again CUPE has negotiated a good deal for members in the long term care sector,” said Lanovaz. “The fact we have been getting such good contracts is a major factor in turning around the raiding situation with AUPE.”
Contact: D’Arcy Lanovaz
President, CUPE Alberta
403.861.5235
Lou Arab
Communications Representative
780.271.2722
For more information about CUPE Alberta, visit www.alberta.cupe.ca
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