Contract negotiations tense between provincial employee union, Alberta government

More details are out on contentious contract negotiations between the province and 22,000 government employees.

The government is criticizing union leadership for misleading members about the benefits of a strike vote and walking away from negotiations, while the union boss claims the province is spreading misinformation.

“As we head back to the bargaining table on June 2, yes, both parties are far apart but this is negotiations and we are committed to getting a new collective agreement at the bargaining table,” said Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) president Guy Smith. “By putting out a rather inflammatory statement — it doesn’t help. There’s also some false information in there about what the union’s current demands are.”

The province says it offered a 12 per cent wage increase over four years, the same as other public sector agreements, while the Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) is asked for 29 per cent.

Smith says that isn’t true.

READ MORE: Thousands of Alberta civil servants vote to strike to back demands, says union

“We tabled out last proposal with 24 per cent over four years, obviously recognizing there’s room to move off of that as well,” he said.

AUPE says it is examining recent deals with other Alberta unions to back up its argument for better pay.

“We are looking at other large, public sector unions that have settled already,” Smith said. “In particular, the United Nurses of Alberta which received just over 20 per cent over four years, and the teachers just rejected a deal that was around 15 per cent over four years.”

Meeting AUPE’s demands would cost taxpayers $23 billion, comparable to major funding programs, according to the province.

The government is warning of a potential strike or lockout if the union doesn’t adopt a more realistic stance when the parties meet at the table in a little over a week.

Plans are place to maintain essential services if needed, according to the province.