The Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) has
received a promising decision from a judge with the Alberta Court of
Queen’s Bench.
received a promising decision from a judge with the Alberta Court of
Queen’s Bench.
At issue is the Public
Service Salary Restraint Act (PSSRA).
Formerly known as Bill 46, the Act was pushed through the legislature last
month and did not receive sufficient scrutiny or debate before it was passed.
Service Salary Restraint Act (PSSRA).
Formerly known as Bill 46, the Act was pushed through the legislature last
month and did not receive sufficient scrutiny or debate before it was passed.
While it’s true that government workers in Alberta are
not strangers to having their rights curtailed, with the right to strike being
limited since 1977, the PSSRA takes the added step of forgoing good faith
bargaining and supplanting it with abusive Government powers. Specifically, failing
a negotiated settlement between the union and the government, the Act steps in
to impose a four-year contract on the workers. It freezes wages in the first two
years and only provides for 1% wage hikes in the final two years.
not strangers to having their rights curtailed, with the right to strike being
limited since 1977, the PSSRA takes the added step of forgoing good faith
bargaining and supplanting it with abusive Government powers. Specifically, failing
a negotiated settlement between the union and the government, the Act steps in
to impose a four-year contract on the workers. It freezes wages in the first two
years and only provides for 1% wage hikes in the final two years.
The Act is a prime example of unfair bargaining,
with the provincial government legislating its way around inconvenient labour
rights. Since its collective agreement ended in March, the AUPE has been
seeking a two-year deal with the province that would see its members receive a
3% pay increase per year. The government has rejected the AUPE’s position.
Rather than continue to negotiate in good faith to find a compromise acceptable
to both parties, the Government enacted the PSSRA. The Act imposes a deadline
of January 31 for the parties to reach an agreement[1].
If no agreement is reach by then, the Act goes into force and forces its wage
freeze and onerous provisions on the workers.
with the provincial government legislating its way around inconvenient labour
rights. Since its collective agreement ended in March, the AUPE has been
seeking a two-year deal with the province that would see its members receive a
3% pay increase per year. The government has rejected the AUPE’s position.
Rather than continue to negotiate in good faith to find a compromise acceptable
to both parties, the Government enacted the PSSRA. The Act imposes a deadline
of January 31 for the parties to reach an agreement[1].
If no agreement is reach by then, the Act goes into force and forces its wage
freeze and onerous provisions on the workers.
The union tried to reach an agreement via mediation.
However, when mediation failed and the AUPE sought unsuccessfully to bring the
matter to compulsory arbitration the ugliness of the Act was on display.
Compulsory arbitration has been a useful process that has been allowed by the
existing Alberta legislation for decades. When the PSSRA comes into effect,
however, it will remove the option of board arbitration. The clear goal is to
remove the ability of the union to negotiate and instead force
government-centric contracts on workers whether they like it or not[2].
However, when mediation failed and the AUPE sought unsuccessfully to bring the
matter to compulsory arbitration the ugliness of the Act was on display.
Compulsory arbitration has been a useful process that has been allowed by the
existing Alberta legislation for decades. When the PSSRA comes into effect,
however, it will remove the option of board arbitration. The clear goal is to
remove the ability of the union to negotiate and instead force
government-centric contracts on workers whether they like it or not[2].
With the January 31 deadline looming, the union has
received some space to breathe. The matter went to court, with the union
challenging the merits and validity of Bill 46. Although the court has not made
a determination of the issues yet, a temporary stay was granted. The stay lasts
until February 14 and will give the court time to make a deliberation and
render a written decision.
received some space to breathe. The matter went to court, with the union
challenging the merits and validity of Bill 46. Although the court has not made
a determination of the issues yet, a temporary stay was granted. The stay lasts
until February 14 and will give the court time to make a deliberation and
render a written decision.
This stay doesn’t give the AUPE the right to proceed
to arbitration at this time, but it does put the legislation on hold until at
least February 14. While not a victory for the workers, it’s certainly not a
defeat.
to arbitration at this time, but it does put the legislation on hold until at
least February 14. While not a victory for the workers, it’s certainly not a
defeat.
Guy Smith, President of the AUPE, notes that the
union remains hopeful and will maintain its clarity of purpose during this
time, characterizing the impact of the decision this way: “Today’s decision doesn’t mean we’ve
won the day. But we have resolved to make every effort to stop this legislation and restore our
members’ rights.” [3]
union remains hopeful and will maintain its clarity of purpose during this
time, characterizing the impact of the decision this way: “Today’s decision doesn’t mean we’ve
won the day. But we have resolved to make every effort to stop this legislation and restore our
members’ rights.” [3]
The stay is an implicit acknowledgement of the court
that this matter is legally complex and worthy of careful consideration. While
the government has made it abundantly clear that it will not respect workers’
rights, there is still cause to believe the court will. When the legislature
has failed workers so egregiously, the courts should step in to reaffirm a
democratic commitment to respect for workers’ rights. Abandoned by the
government, common sense and decency must be offered the protective bulwark of
the courts.
that this matter is legally complex and worthy of careful consideration. While
the government has made it abundantly clear that it will not respect workers’
rights, there is still cause to believe the court will. When the legislature
has failed workers so egregiously, the courts should step in to reaffirm a
democratic commitment to respect for workers’ rights. Abandoned by the
government, common sense and decency must be offered the protective bulwark of
the courts.