AUPE Media Release: Town of Coaldale staff file unfair labour practice complaint against employer

COALDALE – The Town of Coaldale employees have filed an unfair labour practice complaint against the employer after refusing to meet and continue negotiations in a timely manner.

The Town of Coaldale bargaining committee representing staff states the employer has a duty to meet, to bargain in good faith and to make every reasonable effort to reach a collective agreement, even during a lockout.  

Despite attempts to continue negotiations, such as putting forward a reasonable bargaining proposal and offering opportunities to have open and productive discussions, the employer has dragged its feet and put 31 town staff members, their families and the community through unnecessary hardship for the past two months.

The Town of Coaldale’s reasons for delaying bargaining were due to vacations and the upcoming municipal election. However, Coaldale’s mayor, town councillors and chief administrative officer are still bound to fulfill their duties according to the Labour Relations Code (Sections 12 and 16).

The Town of Coaldale has only now offered to meet with the negotiating team on Nov. 17 and 18, nearly eight weeks after initial requests to return to the bargaining table.

The town staff’s legal counsel Pat Nugent states the Town of Coaldale is not treating the situation with anywhere near the seriousness or urgency required by the Code and despite the offer of bargaining dates more than five weeks away is in breach of s60 of the Code.

AUPE members employed by the Town of Coaldale are calling for a hearing to address the unfair labour practice complaint and demand Town Council and the CAO to resume bargaining in good faith – regardless of political considerations such as the municipal election.  

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