Covenant Care: Key outstanding items remain

Your negotiating team met the employer on November 24 and 25 to continue bargaining.

We focused on two outstanding Articles. The first of these was Article 7 – In-Service. We strongly believe that mandatory training must be paid, properly staffed, and supported with the right tools. We tried to work with the employer by adjusting our proposal based on their feedback, but they still did not agree.

The second Article we focused on was Article 8 – Probation and Orientation. New members should receive orientation and mentorship from experienced members, and the employer should give us reasonable notice of new hires, but once again, did not agree with our proposals.

The employer asked to continue these discussions with other representatives not at the bargaining table, and we agreed. This meeting will be scheduled priorto our next scheduled meetings.

We made some progress by signing off several Articles and Letters of Understanding (LOU) with no changes or minor changes. These include:

•    Article 2 – Definitions
•   Article 11 – Postings
•   Article 27 – Discipline
•   LOU 5 – Privacy
•   LOU 7 – Workload
•   LOU 10 – Application Parameters

Your survey answers were clear. Resident care, safety, wages, benefits and morale matters, and that’s what we’re fighting for at the bargaining table.  

The employer thinks that there are no problems because there are no grievances. But we know members are hesitant to file grievances because we fear retaliation. Your team will keeping working on these fundamental issues.

Unfortunately, the employer’s spokesperson is not available until March 2 and 3. We’re disappointed by the delay, though he committed we have first right of refusal on any cancellations he might receive so we can get to the table sooner. We appreciate your patience, and we remain ready to begin negotiating wages and benefits at our next meetings on March 2 and 3.

Please contact a member of your negotiating team if you have questions.

AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – COVENANT CARE

Villa Marie  
Nancy Lydom 
nlydom@hotmail.com

Holy Cross Manor 
Delia Datuin
datuin.dd@gmail.com

Chateau Vitaline 
Junel Samalio 
kalayaan_12@yahoo.com

St. Marguerite Manor  
Amanda Larocque 
larocque_amanda@yahoo.ca

Foyer Lacombe 
Raelene Schlacter 
Raeleneschlachter@hotmail.com

Kendall Sorley 
vksorley@gmail.com

St. Teresa Place 
Alicia McLachlan
chris2alicia@hotmail.com

Annaly Habon
annalyhabon06@gmail.com

St. Thomas  
Cristine Manalaysay
tinatibay@yahoo.com

Buffalo Grace 
Kale Dorchak 
kale.dorchak@gmail.com

AUPE RESOURCE STAFF

Christian Tetreault, Negotiator
c.tetreault@aupe.org