SAIL Issues Lock Out as AUPE Continues to Demand Salary Increase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Edmonton, Alberta) Monday, May 19, 2014
Supports for Artspace Independent Living Inc. (SAIL) is a home care service provided for some residents at Artspace Housing Co-op in Edmonton. Artspace has 66 apartments in the high rise and 22 town houses. There are 30 people who use Supports for Independent Living but there are another 130 able-bodied adults and children living in Artspace.
SAIL staff voted in favor of strike action on February 27, and went on strike May 7. They are demanding a significant increase in pay in addition to increases to benefits. Since May 7, replacement workers have been providing home care. A consumer/user of the home care Bonnie Glover says: “We, those who use SAIL had a meeting. All the user/members I talked to, as well as myself, like the replacement workers. We are getting good care.”
When SAIL staff tried to resume work on Friday, May 16, SAIL President Roxanne Ulanicki issued the statement "We are not permitting you to work today. We have made a proposal for your orderly return to work - our proposal was rejected by the Union.” It became clear last Friday that AUPE were issuing short notice of return to work as a tactic to cause disruption to SAIL and its delivery of home care services to user members. As a result of these tactics, SAIL has issued lock out notice to the Union and Employees which will commence at 5:15 Monday, May 19 and the strike will resume. Replacement workers continued to provide care over the long weekend.
Background:
--On Feb. 27 health-care aides at SAIL Inc. voted in favour of strike action. April 13 SAIL rejected the AUPE demand for 15.6 % salary increase plus increase to other benefits. AUPE workers went on strike
May 7. AUPE have been advised that SAIL is currently operating under a temporary interim contract with AHS. This will be changing on August 1st. Until SAIL is aware of its level of funding, it is pointless to proceed to arbitration.
--SAIL has been in discussions with AHS concerning our levels of funding and we told AUPE that we were in these discussions. We have not prevented AUPE from approaching AHS or the Alberta Government themselves. They do not need SAIL’s agreement or permission to speak to the Alberta Government or AHS pertaining to our funding.
--SAIL’s funding was significantly reduced in the spring of this year. SAIL has proposed a wage increase of approximately 1% with a wage re-opener when SAIL’s funding has been finalized. We think this is fair since we are unable to commit to a specific wage rate when we do not know what our final funding level will be. The union has rejected SAIL’s offer.
--SAIL has made arrangements for the on-going care of our user members during the strike. SAIL workers, and subsequently replacement workers, provide home care services to our user members, and are not qualified or expected to respond to medical emergencies. They dial 911 in that event.
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