The Alberta authorities is providing a 7.5-per-cent wage improve within the midst of collective bargaining, with authorities staff calling for a 26-per-cent bump.
Greater than 22,000 members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Staff fall beneath the negotiations that started this 12 months, together with staff in social providers, corrections and pure sources conservation.
In a earlier replace to members, the union known as the federal government’s opening four-year supply an insult.
The union’s counter-proposal spans three years.
Finance Minister Nate Horner says his United Conservative Occasion authorities values the general public service however doesn’t see publicly funded workers getting the identical type of settlement the union is demanding wherever else in Canada.
Horner calls the union’s wage place excessive.
“The Alberta authorities won’t improve taxes or reduce applications, providers or staff to present unprecedented wage will increase that may lead to pay effectively above market charges,” Horner mentioned in a information launch Monday.
Man Smith, president of the union, mentioned the federal government has been conscious of the union’s proposals since March 6, and the union received’t budge from what it calls truthful and cheap calls for.
Smith known as Horner’s assertion unwarranted and unhelpful.
“The price of dwelling has elevated for everybody, and each employee has the correct to truthful, livable compensation from their employers,” he mentioned.
Smith mentioned negotiations ought to happen in good religion and on the bargaining desk, not by means of the press.
“There is no such thing as a purpose that any authorities employee needs to be unable to afford meals, garments and hire whereas working full time for the federal government of a really rich province,” mentioned the union’s replace in February.
