Lethbridge Polytechnic: Wage negotiations stall; mediation set for the fall

Your negotiating team kicked monetary talks back up with Lethbridge Polytechnic after bargaining broke down on May 22.  

Unfortunately, things didn't go the way we hoped.

The employer flat out rejected our monetary package. Our position on wages, is the same that was originally tabled for the Government of Alberta.

They did say they were “open to movement of the accrual rates on annual vacation” but didn’t provide an actual counteroffer.  

We only agreed on two items: renewing the current Letter of Understanding for Contracting Out, and a bump of $50 for work boots.

The employer is sticking to their insulting proposal of 2%, 2%, 1.5%, 1.5%. They have also given a hard no to Cost of Living Adjustments, a Living Wage, and Long-Service Increases for longtime staff.

They tried to use other post-secondary institutions as examples to back their position.

When challenged, they admitted these other settlements were for faculty members, and not reflective of the work AUPE members do or any of our contracts. They are trying to compare apples to oranges, and we are not bargaining for any faculty associations.

Our proposals are too far apart. Your negotiating team is now working to complete our Essential Service Agreement and hopes to begin mediation in the fall.

Please contact your negotiating team with any questions or concerns regarding this bargaining update.  

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AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – LETHBRIDGE POLYTECHNIC

Jill Lemieux 
darryljill@hotmail.com

Melinda Harder 
melindajean29@yahoo.ca  

Kim Erasmus 
klerasmus@outlook.com

AUPE RESOURCE STAFF

Darren Gangur Negotiator 
d.gangur@aupe.org