Benevolence Care: Wage negotiations are at a crucial stage 

Your negotiating team met with Benevolence Care Centre on Sept. 16 to review the employer's monetary proposals. It included:  

• A 3% increase per year;  
• An increase to Health Spending Account up to $500;  
• And a 25-cent increase to all shift differentials and weekend premiums.    

The employer wanted us to respond in 10 days, but it only took us one day to review the proposal and provide our fair counteroffer.  

The employer said they will meet to respond to our counteroffer on December 3-4.  

This is a crucial moment in bargaining. The employer’s response to our counteroffer will give us insight into what to expect in the next stage of bargaining. 

The employer could agree to our offer and we reach a potential deal or they provide a counteroffer or they could determine that we are too far apart, in which case we would have reached an impasse.  Should we reach impasse, we continue preparing for the next stage of the bargaining process, which includes negotiating an Essential Services Agreement (ESA).  

Essential Services Agreements decide who must keep working during a strike or lockout. They are required by law and considered necessary to protect life, safety, and public health, as well as maintain the rule of law and public security. The work we do falls under those criteria, so it is important that we have a plan in place if the situation calls for it.  

If we and the employer cannot agree at the bargaining table, one method to move bargaining forward is through formal mediation. To use the mediation process, we need to have finished our Essential Services Agreement.  

Please contact a member of your negotiating team if you have any questions or feedback about this bargaining update.  
 
AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – BENEVOLENCE CARE CENTRE  
 
Michelle Dunlop   
mrsmdunlop@hotmail.com  
 
Ma Charissa Brigondo   
charizbrigondo@yahoo.ca  
 
Dorothy Casipe   
djcasipe@gmail.com  
 
Regine Alutula (Alternate)  
saburiregine@yahoo.ca  
 
AUPE RESOURCE STAFF  
 
Scott Drake Negotiations  
s.drake@aupe.org