AFL supports UNA application to reopen arbitration
EDMONTON – The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) supports the United Nurses of Alberta’s (UNA) application to the Alberta Labour Relations Board to review the decision to delay arbitration of the wage reopener for close to 30,000 UNA members in response to a demand by Alberta Health Services.
On Friday afternoon, May 10, employer bargaining representatives informed arbitrator David Jones and UNA that they had been instructed by the provincial government to put the arbitration on hold. They did not provide an explanation for the government’s position beyond suggesting the government wishes to “engage in consultation” with public sector unions.
Arbitrator Jones thereupon granted the employer’s request for a delay beyond the date specified in UNA’s Provincial Collective Agreement.
“These actions mean the Kenney government is essentially ignoring a legally binding contract. It’s also the first step towards using state power to unilaterally cut wages,” said Gil McGowan, AFL president.
The Supreme Court of Canada has repeatedly ruled that workers have a constitutional right to make collective representations and to have their collective representations considered in good faith.
“They are simply asking the government to not break the law,” McGowan said. “It’s one thing for governments to obtain a wage freeze through negotiations with unions and workers, it’s another thing to impose those freezes without negotiation.”
UNA has also filed grievances against Alberta Health Services, Covenant Health and other employers involved in the negotiations.
Read UNA Media Release.
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Ramona Franson
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