Two Month Strike Leads to Settlement at Fletcher’s
UFCW 1118 workers on strike at Fletcher’s hog plant in Red Deer for almost two months came to agreement with the company on a new contract. In return for wage cuts, each worker will receive a one-time bonus between $5,500 and $22,000. The deal also places limits on contracting out and improves the dental plan. The deal comes at difficult time in the hog industry, as employers across the country are demanding wage concessions.

Treasury Branch Workers Negotiate 5% Raise
2,300 employees at the Alberta Treasury Branch are receiving a 5% raise this year, retroactive to April, after successfully negotiating a new one-year deal. The AUPE Local 20 members also agreed to an arrangement for additional pay increases if certain goals are attained during the life of the agreement. This is the first collective agreement negotiated since Treasury Branch became a Crown Corporation.

Edmonton Emergency Medical Staff Land Deal To Improve Care
Members of CUPE 3197, representing Edmonton ambulance and emergency medical staff, ratified a three-year deal that will improve patient care and provide a 5% raise to workers. The deal commits the City of Edmonton to implement an Advanced Life Support Ambulance system, which ensures a fully-trained paramedic is on board every ambulance. Other commitments regarding training and inter-hospital transfer were agreed to. Union spokespeople stated that the deal is about patient care and improving service.

CUPE Health Care Locals Reach Deals
CUPE locals representing support staff at the Peter Lougheed Centre and auxiliary nurses, lab employees and other support staff in health facilities around the province have negotiated new agreements. The two agreements will return the 5% rollback forced by the provincial government in 1994 plus provide additional raises during the life of the contract.

Talks Between Government and Social Workers Break Down
Talks between the provincial government and AUPE Local 006, which represents social workers in the province, have broken down. The social workers are looking for a wage increase to bring them up to par with similar workers in other provinces. The union says the low wages and high stress levels are causing a "brain-drain", as social workers move to other provinces. As of press time, there we no further talks scheduled.