Ontario clinic staff join OPSEU; AUPE launches constitutional challenge
Regina public school deal ratified
REGINA — After more than four years of bargaining, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Local 3766 employees ratified a five-year collective agreement on June 24 with the Regina public school division.
“The collective agreement reflects fair compensation increases,” says Jackie Christianson, president of CUPE 3766.
Highlights of the agreement include a seven-per-cent wage increase, $1,000 signing bonus, market adjustment for elementary administrative assistants and science assistants, improvements to supervision allowance and the conversion of a significant amount of temporary members to permanent status, says the union.
CUPE represents more than 7,000 education support workers across Saskatchewan, including more than 800 support staff at the Regina Public School Division.
Ontario clinic staff join OPSEU
Oshawa, Ont. — Paralegals and support staff at Durham Community Legal Clinic in Oshawa, Ont. joined the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) on June 17.
“We know it wasn’t always an easy road; the employer tried every trick in the book to try to stop you. But with resolve and determination, you’ve prevailed,” says OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas.
The Durham clinic workers cast their votes on joining the union in November 2019, but the employer launched a number of challenges in an attempt to stop their votes from being counted, says OPSEU.
After more than six months, the employer dropped its challenges, the ballot box was opened, and the majority had voted yes to OPSEU, says the union.
AUPE launches constitutional challenge
EDMONTON — The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) launched a constitutional challenge on June 23 against the Alberta government’s Bill 1, the Critical Infrastructure Defence Act.
“This bill violates the rights of Albertans. It is an attack on our freedom to take part in peaceful protests, which is recognized as an essential part of democracy,” says Guy Smith, president of AUPE. “This is the kind of law we would expect to see in an oppressive dictatorship.”
In a statement of claim filed at the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, the union claims the bill breaches a number of Charter rights and that it will “substantially hinder AUPE’s ability to meaningfully engage in the collective bargaining process.”
The problems with the bill include concerns about the criminalization of important speech, assembly and association rights as well as concerns about what the bill actually means, which AUPE argues is rooted in the bill’s vagueness and overbreadth, says the union.
The bill makes it clear that “essential infrastructure” can include sidewalks, boulevards and ditches, which is hugely problematic for many meaningful demonstrations and gatherings, says the union.
Cartems Donuts workers join UFCW
VANCOUVER — Cartems Donuts workers joined the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) Canada, Local 1518 after voting in a historic electronic certification vote on June 20.
Prior to the vote, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board (LRB) ruled that workers in B.C. can vote to join a union electronically in addition to in-person voting and mail-in ballots, says the union.
“Being able to welcome them to our union through electronic voting is an exciting step towards a new future where every worker can have a strong voice at work,” says Kim Novak, UFCW 1518 president.
