GSBC update #30: Where Things Stand – Mediation, Why We Don’t Yet Have a Tentative Agreement, and Upcoming Telephone Town Halls

We want to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude for your patience and unwavering support during this challenging time. Since the strong strike mandate was delivered on May 13th, we’ve returned to the bargaining table for 12 days of formal mediation with the employer.

We understand the frustration that comes with the lack of regular updates. Mediation is a fluid and often confidential process, where positions shift regularly as both sides work toward a settlement. Despite this complexity, we are committed to keeping you as informed as possible during these crucial final stages.

Our goal remains clear: to ensure every member understands what’s been agreed to, what remains unresolved, and what we’re still working toward. Thank you again for your trust and your commitment to each other. Your solidarity continues to guide us, whether this process leads to a negotiated settlement or requires us to consider further action.

Where We Stand on Monetary Issues

Pay increases are our number one goal and priority in this round of bargaining. This is the issue we are pushing the Employer the hardest on. There has been agreement in principle on other areas of improving the collective agreement; but pay increases need to be resolved before we finalize agreement in those other areas.

Union Proposal

Early in mediation, we made a meaningful shift in our monetary position. We proposed a four-year deal with general wage increases of 3% per year, consistent with pattern agreements across the province, including the recent settlement with the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA).

In addition, we proposed:

• A 0.5% increase to each step of the wage grid;
• All members advancing one step on the wage grid;
• The creation of a new top step with an additional 4% increase.

This structure mirrors the UNA settlement and would provide approximately a 20% increase over four years for most members.

We have also made other proposals to increase pay in addition to the base salary increases.

Although this shift did not immediately yield a tentative agreement, we’ve continued to work productively with mediator Rick Wilson. Some areas have been agreed to in principle, though not yet formally included in an employer offer.

We remain committed to reaching a resolution that is fair and sustainable—and one that our members can support.

Employer Proposal

The employer’s monetary position remains a significant barrier. Their approach centres on selective “market adjustments” for certain classifications, while the majority of members would receive only 3% increases per year—12% over four years.

We cannot support a proposal that treats members unequally. Inflation has affected everyone, and all members deserve fair treatment. The employer’s current model divides our workforce and fails to provide meaningful wage increases for most classifications. It is a proposal we cannot, in good faith, bring forward for a ratification vote.

Note: some classifications listed are seasonal and therefore may show zero (0) members. This reflects the classification being “out of season” at the time the analysis was done.

What’s Next

We know this process has tested your patience. We want to sincerely thank you for your incredible support—through rallies, lunch-and-learns, and direct engagement with your bargaining committee. Your efforts continue to send a powerful message at the table.

Our next scheduled mediation session is July 31st, and we remain hopeful that the employer will return to the table ready to conclude a deal. However, we also recognize that timelines will need to be established. If no resolution is found, we must be prepared to act on the strong strike mandate you provided.

Upcoming Telephone Town Halls

To keep communication open and accessible, we have scheduled telephone town halls on August 6th and 7th at 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. each day. These sessions will provide an opportunity for us to update you directly and discuss our path forward.

Please watch for notices and voice messages with more information on how to join.

Thank you again for standing together. We will continue doing everything we can to bring home a fair agreement.

In solidarity,
Your GSBC Bargaining Committee

Click here to read all previous GSBC bargaining updates.

AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM - GOA GOVERNMENT SERVICES BARGAINING COMMITTEE (GSBC)

Local 001  

Kathleen Buss, GSBC Representative  
quilterbuss@gmail.com

Local 002  

Lorraine Ellis, GSBC Representative   
ellisl1950@shaw.ca  

Local 003

Dax Lydiard, GSBC Representative  
003bargaining@gmail.com

Local 004      

Bowman Pringle, GSBC Representative   
bowman.pringle@gmail.com    

Local 005  

Jeffrey Bleach, GSBC Representative 
bargaininglocal005@aupe.ca

Local 006  

Rob Poggemiller, GSBC Representative  
poggrobe@hotmail.com

Local 009  

Russell Clark, GSBC Representative  
russell.clark@shaw.ca

Local 012

Richard Hansen, GSBC Representative  
local012Bargaining@outlook.com

AUPE STAFF NEGOTIATOR

James Mitchell, Negotiations  
j.mitchell@aupe.org