FALL 2009
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
Getting the
message out
TV advertisements
communicate health care
concerns to Albertans
Convention
Union delegates to meet
Oct. 22-24 in Edmonton
Save Alberta Hospital
AUPE President Doug Knight
addresses town hall meeting
10
Things We Can
Do To Help Our
Environment
From AUPE’s Environment Committee
•Turnoffourcomputer,otherelectronicsand
lightsattheendoftheworkday.
•Limitourcars’warmupandidlingtime.Drive
smarter,slowdown.
•Fillareusablewaterbottlewithtapwater.
Bottledwaterusesnondegradableplastic.
•Usereusableshoppingbagsinsteadof
plasticbags.
•Recyclebottles,cans,paper.
“You must first be
the change you
wish to see in the
world.“
MahatmaGandhi
•Shoplocallyforlocalproducts.
•Eatenvironmentallyfriendlyorganicfoods.
•Considercarpooling.Rideabike,walk.
•Limitwaterusewhenbrushingteeth,washing
orshowering.
FIND YOUR TYPE
AT AUPE 33RD ANNUAL CONVENTION
A B AB O
Come by the blood typing booth to find
out what type of blood you have, and
sign up for the 2009 AUPE blood drive.
To participate in the AUPE blood drive,
sign in under AUPE at any blood donor
clinic across the province between
October 19 and November 14, 2009.
To find a clinic near you click on “Find a
Clinic” on the Canadian Blood Services
website. www.blood.ca
•Plantatree.Asingletreeabsorbssignificant
amountsofcarbondioxideduringitslifetime.
CONFIDENTIAL
COUNSELLING
SERVICES
For AUPE General Service Members and Families
AUPE Member Assistance Program (MAP)
WHAT IS IT?
An AUPE sponsored program of confidential counselling,
designed to help members and their families resolve their
personal and professional issues, stresses, and traumas
and thus improve their overall health, well-being, and job
performance.
COUNSELLING
SERVICES COVERED
BY THIS PROGRAM
• Aging Parents
• Anger Management
• Bereavement
• Career Issues
• Emotional Problems
• Family Problems
• Fatigue
• Harassment
• Health Concerns
• Marriage Preparation
• Marital Problems
• Physical or Sexual Abuse
• Relationship Issues
• Single Parenting
• Stress
• Substance Abuse/Addiction
• Trauma
TO ARRANGE
FOR COUNSELLING
OR GET MORE
INFORMATION
Contact CMR Canada
at 1-800-567-9953.
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit the Website:
cmrcanada.ca/AUPEmap.htm
All arrangements will be
made for you.
Your Confidentiality
is Guaranteed
Contents
FALL 2009
A PUBLICATION OF THE ALBERTA
UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
On the Cover
President
Doug Knight
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Bill Dechant
Vice-Presidents
Sandra Azocar
Lorraine Ellis
Jason Heistad
Erez Raz
Executive Director
Ron Hodgins
Editor
David Climenhaga
Contributors
Vanessa Bjerreskov
Christy McPhillamey
Mark Wells
Design
Jon Olsen
Telephone: 780-930-3300
Toll-free (Alberta): 1-800-232-7284
Fax: 780-930-3392
Toll-free Fax: 1-888-388-2873
[email protected]
www.aupe.org
Return Undeliverable Canadian
addresses to:
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
10451 170 St. NW
Edmonton, AB
T5P 4S7
Publications Mail Agreement: 40065207
AUPE President Doug Knight speaks to more than 600 members and
concerned citizens who attended the Sept. 2 town hall meeting on the
government’s plan to close beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
4
Labour Relations Briefs
Agreements ratified, new members
welcomed
6
President’s Labour Day Message
More than just another weekend
7
Annual Convention
Fire aftermath won’t stop Convention
FEATURE
Save Alberta Hospital
12
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
18
Union members fight to save world-class
psychiatric facility
Candidates’ submissions
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
25
The fiscal year in review
3
News: Labour Relations Briefs
Public health care General
Support transition bargaining
under way
AUPE representatives of locals for General
Support Service (GSS) employees of
former health regions, as well as other
public health care employers such as
the Alberta Cancer Board, are holding
transitional negotiations with Alberta
Health Services to negotiate a single
province-wide collective agreement.
The AUPE members were represented
by several different locals until the
operations of Alberta’s nine health
regions, the cancer board and other health
providers were rolled into Alberta Health
Services in May 2008.
The transitional negotiations were
ordered by the Alberta Labour Relations
Board in 2008. AUPE locals at the
transitional bargaining table include Local
054, 056, 057, 095 and parts of Local 047.
The locals’ representatives on AUPE’s
transitional bargaining committee met
Aug. 11 to prepare for the bargaining and
held meetings with AHS on Aug. 12-13,
Aug. 18-20, Sept. 1-3 and Sept. 23-25.
ALRB ruled that all unionized Alberta
Health Services employees must be
members of one of four province-wide
bargaining units. These units paralleled the
region-wide bargaining units that existed
under the health boards.
The four units represent direct nursing
care and nursing instruction; paramedical,
professional or technical services; auxiliary
nursing care; and general support services.
AUPE represents employees in the latter
two bargaining units.
A stay was issued by the courts in June
to give other unions the opportunity to
make constitutional arguments against the
ALRB’s ruling. Those arguments will be
heard in October.
In the meantime, the ALRB has
ordered AUPE to commence discussions
on transitioning its GSS members into a
single receiving agreement.
Local 047/014, Millwoods
Shepherd’s Care: 1-year
agreement ratified
Members of AUPE Local 047/014 who
work at the Millwoods Extended Care
4
AUPE members serving on the Shepherd’s Care Millwoods Bargaining Committee
posed for a photo at union headquarters after reaching a tentative agreement with
their employer on Aug. 21. Members ratified the agreement on Aug. 27, 2009.
Centre in Edmonton for the Shepherd’s
Care Foundation overwhelmingly ratified
a new collective agreement Aug. 27, 2009.
The agreement delivers significant wage
and benefit improvements matching those
of employees at the Kensington Care
Centre.
Monetary improvements include salary
increases between 8 and 12 per cent for all
staff in the one-year term of the agreement,
valid until Aug. 31, 2010, a $250 signing
bonus to take effect within 30 days of
ratification, and a $350 retention bonus
within 30 days of June 1, 2010.
Benefit improvements include a $250
Health Spending Account; professional
fee reimbursement, three professional
development days, responsibility pay and
charge pay for LPNs; improved pay for “super
stats;” and evening, night, and weekend
premiums.
AUPE welcomes staff at
Innovative Housing Society
Assisted living workers employed by the
Innovative Housing Society voted in favour
of joining AUPE in a certification vote
supervised by ALRB on June 26, 2009.
Of 124 eligible voters, 110 made their
voices heard at workplace polls at the
two Edmonton facilities operated by
the Innovative Housing Society: Villa
Marguerite and 114 Gravelle.
The approximately 140 new Innovative
Housing Society members include
Licensed Practical Nurses, health care
assistants, recreational therapists and
various support staff who provide care to
seniors and people with disabilities.
Local 071/005, Medicine Hat
College: 4.5% increase ratified
Medicine Hat College employees
represented by AUPE Local 071, Chapter
005, ratified a 4.5-per-cent wage increase
on June 26, 2009, in a wage reopener that
took place in the final year of a three-year
agreement.
The deal included a 4.5-per-cent increase
for general classifications and a 6.5-per-cent
increase for staff classification levels 10 and
11. The agreement expires on June 30, 2010.
In a wage-reopener, the employer and
employees negotiate wage increases in a
specific year of the collective agreement,
leaving all other provisions in place.
AUPE represents approximately
160 employees in support services
classifications at Medicine Hat College.
Local 042, Good Samaritan
Society: Assistance of mediator
sought
AUPE has applied for the assistance of
a provincially appointed mediator to
help the union and the Good Samaritan
Society reach a collective agreement for
approximately 140 group home coordinators and community service workers.
Bargaining progressed on non-monetary
items July 28-30 and Aug. 10, with several
current and improved provisions signed
off. But negotiators for AUPE and the
society hit a snag when the employer
refused to table a monetary offer until its
budgets are finalized for the next year.
Provincial funding in 2009 for programs
for persons with developmental disabilities
was 5.8 per cent above 2008 grants,
including more than $24 million for
staff recruiting and retention, so AUPE
bargainers argued the employer should
be able to negotiate confident in the
knowledge additional funding is available.
The Good Samaritan Society operates
approximately 20 group homes for persons
with developmental disabilities in the
Edmonton area.
AUPE welcomes Licensed
Practical Nurses at Calgary’s
Glenmore Auxiliary Hospital
Approximately 40 LPNs voted to join
AUPE in a vote supervised by the ALRB
Aug. 28, 2009 at two publicly owned
Calgary continuing-care facilities.
The new members had worked for years
without a union while other Auxiliary
Nursing Care (ANC) personnel and GSS
workers at the site were AUPE members.
AUPE represents approximately 700
ANC and GSS employees of Carewest,
which operates nine continuing-care
facilities in the Calgary area.
AUPE Local 020, ATB Financial:
Mediator gets involved
Representatives of AUPE Local 020 and
ATB Financial met at union headquarters
in Edmonton Aug. 26-27 to work with
provincially appointed mediator Bertha
Greenstein in an effort to resolve the
primary items in dispute in collective
bargaining.
No agreement was reached, but an
additional mediation date was set for Sept.
16, 2009.
Collective bargaining for a new contract
between AUPE and ATB Financial
reached an impasse in the spring and a
joint application was made by the parties
to seek the assistance of a provincially
appointed mediator to reach an agreement.
AUPE represents approximately 1,600
employees of ATB Financial at branches
throughout Alberta.
Local 048/003, Bethany Care:
3-year agreement ratified
The AUPE Local 048/003 bargaining
committee, representing approximately 40
GSS members employed by Bethany Care
Centre in Calgary, ratified a new collective
agreement on Aug. 27, 2009.
The three-year collective agreement
provides respective wage increases of 5 per
cent, 4.5 per cent, and 4.5 per cent in 2009,
2010, and 2011. The agreement is valid
from Jan. 16, 2009 to Jan. 16, 2012.
The agreement also includes $2.25-perhour weekend and $2.50-per-hour shift
premium, with shifts on Christmas Day
and the August Civic Holiday paid out at
double time.
Benefit improvements include five
days supplemental holiday to employees
after 25 years of service, increases to the
dental plan, and a $400 Health Spending
Account, which rises to $500 in the second
year of the agreement.
Local 071/002, Olds College:
Two-year agreement ratified
Olds College employees ratified a two-year
agreement on July 6, 2009. The agreement
between the college and AUPE Local
071/002 includes a general pay increase
of 4 per cent and a provision to negotiate
wage increases in the second year.
The agreement renews a previous
contract with some improvements,
including Health Spending Accounts
that have been increased to $400 and the
addition of a $200 annual allowance for
safety footwear and is valid July 1, 2009,
until June 30, 2011.
Approximately 167 AUPE members
work at Olds College, including
educational assistants, administrative
staff, clerical staff, trades and maintenance
people.
AUPE responds to elimination
of Health Care Aide positions at
St. Mary’s Hospital, Camrose
AUPE representatives are working to
assist members that may be affected by the
pending elimination of up to nine Health
Care Aide positions at St. Mary’s Hospital
in Camrose.
The union has been told the positions
will be eliminated this fall as St. Mary’s
converts long-term care beds to acute care
beds at the direction of Alberta Health
Services.
Local 059/003 & 005, Alberta
Legal Aid Society: 4.4% increase
Members of AUPE Local 059, Chapters
003 and 005, who work for Alberta Legal
Aid in Edmonton and Calgary, have
ratified a 4.4-per-cent pay increase for all
employees effective April 1, 2009.
The wage-reopener took place in the
final year of the collective agreement, valid
from April 1, 2007 until March 31, 2010.
Members voted June 5, 2009, at AUPE
headquarters in Edmonton. Alberta
Legal Aid Society employs approximately
75 members including legal aid officers,
taxation officers, legal resource agents,
collection officers, administrative support,
and appointing officers.
AUPE welcomes Boyack LPNs
AUPE welcomes LPNs who work at
Carewest’s George Boyack Nursing Home
in Calgary after an overwhelming majority
voted to join Sept. 9.
Carewest George Boyack accommodates
221 long term care residents and is located
in northeast Calgary.
AUPE represents about 700 ANC
and GSS employees of Carewest, which
operates nine continuing-care facilities in
the Calgary area.
5
Message from the President: Labour Day
Weekend brought to you by working people an
opportunity to think about what really matters
AUPE President Doug Knight published
this message on Labour Day:
To many Albertans, the Labour Day
long weekend is a last opportunity to soak
up the summer sun. Whether you are
camping, barbequing or watching football,
it is a weekend meant to be enjoyed.
Still, however you enjoy the long
weekend, take a moment to think of the
origins of this holiday. It’s more than just
the last weekend of summer. It is a time to
recognize the value of the work we do as
Albertans, and as working people.
Labour Day, the first Monday in
September, differs in essential ways from
other holidays of the year. It does not
commemorate a war, tragedy or hero, nor
is it based on any religious observance. It
is a creation of the labor movement and
is dedicated to the social and economic
achievements of workers. It constitutes
AUPE President Doug Knight and CAW National Representative Todd
Romanow at the Labour Day BBQ in Edmonton’s Giovanni Caboto Park.
none of these had it not been for the
hard work, courage and sacrifice of union
members over the years.
While we relax this long weekend, it is with
the knowledge that we enjoy this holiday
and others like it because of the efforts of
union members who have gone before us.
Doug Knight, AUPE President
an annual national tribute to the
contributions working people have made
to the strength, prosperity and well being
of our country. It is a day to take pride in
the work we do, and in how far we’ve come
as a civilized nation.
So while we relax this long weekend, it
is with the knowledge that we enjoy this
holiday and others like it because of the
efforts of union members who have gone
before us.
Many of us take for granted the
weekends we enjoy — not to mention
laws on hours of work and overtime pay,
child labour laws, health and safety laws,
workers’ compensation, employment
insurance, pensions and a host of other
rights and benefits. Yet we would have
6
In Canada today, working families face
uncertain times. We need to remember
when we celebrate Labour Day that we
may have come far, but there is plenty left
to do. The economic storm that hit our
country and the world last year is not over
yet, and we know that the need for unions
to represent working people — in their
workplaces and throughout society — is
particularly obvious during uncertain times.
Working Albertans are right to be
concerned as powerful interest groups in our
society use the recession as an excuse to attack
our public services in health care, education,
child and family services, environmental
protection, public safety, and many other
areas. Most recently, we have heard threats to
close beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, a
world-class psychiatric facility that serves the
mentally ill from throughout Alberta, and
our neighbouring provinces and territories.
These kinds of harmful policy decisions
affect AUPE members directly, of course,
but also all Albertans who depend on the
public services.
Alberta’s economy will recover as
it has recovered in the past. But we as
citizens, and as union members, have
the responsibility to speak up when the
government responds to the recession in
ways that do not benefit all Albertans.
When they try to sacrifice the long-term
well being of our province to address shortterm deficits, it is our obligation to act as
a voice of conscience and common sense,
as we are now doing with our fight to
preserve the programs at Alberta Hospital
Edmonton.
Working together, we can help Alberta
get back to “business as usual” as it should
really be — preserving the gains made by
generations of labour activists and ensuring
continued access to public services that all
Albertans value.
So whether you are barbequing,
watching a game, or getting ready to go
back to school, I ask you to think about
these things as you enjoy your Labour Day
weekend.
Convention: Governing AUPE
Hotel fire won’t stop Convention,
Provincial Executive decides
AUPE’s Provincial Executive has voted
unanimously for the union’s Annual
Convention to take place Oct. 22-24
despite potential disruptions from the
aftermath of a fire that has temporarily
closed the convention hotel.
The Provincial Executive held an
emergency meeting Sept. 26 in Edmonton
to consider how best to deal with problems
caused by cleanup from the fire, which
will leave most parts of the hotel closed at
convention time, said Executive SecretaryTreasurer Bill Dechant.
A record 759 delegates are expected at
the 33rd Annual Convention, at which
biennial elections for president, executive
secretary-treasurer and vice-president
are set to take place. In all, close to 1,000
participants will have to be accommodated.
The theme of the Convention will
be “Public Services – Right Answer for
Tough Times,” and the keynote speaker
will be former British
Columbia premier
Mike Harcourt, who
will speak on the need
for a strong public
service.
Managers of the
Delta Edmonton
Mike Harcourt South Hotel and
Conference Centre informed AUPE Sept.
24 that repairs from the Aug. 26 fire in
the kitchen of Botanica Restaurant were
behind schedule
and would not be
completed by Oct.
22. The hotel is
completely closed at
present.
Smoke from the
fire damaged more
than 200 guest
rooms, which will not be available for
Convention along with meeting rooms, the
lobby and other areas. Delegates who were
to stay in the hotel will have to be bused
from other locations, Dechant explained.
Fortunately, Dechant noted, the hotel’s
conference hall operates on a completely
separate air circulation system and will not
be affected by smoke damage or dust from
the ongoing repair work.
No other facilities suitable for a large
convention like AUPE’s were available
Oct. 22-24, so Delta staff worked very
hard to find alternate accommodation and
facilities in nearby hotels, Dechant said.
“We had the options of going ahead
with Convention on schedule, recognizing
that there would be some inconveniences,
or switching to another date, a solution
that would have created a whole different
set of problems,” he explained.
“All members of PE agreed the best
solution was to go ahead with Convention
on the dates we had planned,” he said.
The gathering will be the largest in the
history of the Alberta’s largest union,
thanks to unprecedented growth over the
past several years. As of June 2009, AUPE
membership stood at more than 75,000.
Because of this growth, starting in 2010
AUPE’s Convention will be held at the
much larger Shaw Conference Centre in
Edmonton.
Opening ceremonies will take place at
9 a.m. sharp on Oct. 22, with Solidarity
Forever and O Canada sung by delegates
accompanied by a quintet of unionized
Edmonton Symphony brass musicians.
Elections for president will take place
first thing on the morning of Oct. 23,
followed by voting for other positions.
Candidate election statements to delegates
are included starting on page 18 of this
edition of Direct Impact.
Convention ends when Executive
Committee members are sworn in mid-day
on Oct. 24.
AUPE’s 33 locals are entitled to
send one elected delegate for every 100
members.
Members gear up for province-wide blood drive
Preparations are in full swing for AUPE’s
2009 blood drive. Co-ordinator Ramona
Price is working tirelessly to encourage
members, families and friends to give
blood between Oct. 17 and Nov. 14, 2009.
“Our contact, Stephen Wright at
Canadian Blood Services, said that 200
units is a good goal for AUPE,” said Price.
“But I think we can well exceed that mark.”
One 450-millilitre unit of donated blood
could potentially save three lives, she noted.
To promote the effort, a bloodtyping booth will be set up at AUPE’s
Convention. “I’ll be there promoting
the blood drive and answering questions
anyone might have,” she said.
AUPE members are encouraged to
make an appointment to donate between
Oct. 17 and Nov. 14 at any permanent or
temporary blood-donor clinic.
Permanent clinics exist in Edmonton,
Calgary, Red Deer, and Lethbridge.
Temporary clinics can be located on the
Canadian Blood Services Website at
www.blood.ca. “To have the donation count
as part of our blood drive, sign in under
AUPE and note your local,” said Price.
For more information, call
1-888-2-DONATE, or visit www.blood.ca,
or contact Price at [email protected].
7
Looking Ahead: Bargaining
To build future, AUPE must face
current economic situation in Alberta
AUPE faces a troubling trend in
bargaining that characterizes the economic
reality we will face in the near future,
President Doug Knight warns.
As a result of recession conditions
throughout Alberta, employers everywhere
are tightening their belts, slowing the rate
at which they hire new employees and
looking for economies in their operations,
Knight explained.
negotiations, we will have to fight against
unreasonable demands by any employer,”
Knight said. “At the same time, we need
to recognize that the economic distress
claimed by some of our members’
employers is real.”
Unreasonable demands have already
been made in current bargaining by
ATB Financial, the Alberta Research
Council and the County of Mackenzie,
As AUPE’s leaders, we need to be thinking
of ways to approach bargaining in more
challenging economic circumstances.
Doug Knight, AUPE President
“Inevitably, this is having an impact on
negotiations in which AUPE is involved,”
he said.
Knight noted that while some public
sector and not-for-profit employers
remain committed to fair collective
agreements that follow the pattern of
recent years, others are taking advantage
of the economic conditions to attack their
employees’ hard-won agreements.
“As a union constantly involved in
which is demanding extra hours of
work, Knight noted. Other employers
of AUPE members have taken a more
reasonable approach, but nevertheless seek
consideration for funding shortfalls or
financial difficulties.
“It is reasonable to expect that this
trend will become more common and
affect more of our members, including
large numbers that are represented by
some of our largest bargaining units,”
Knight said, pointing with concern to the
master and subsidiary agreements with the
government of Alberta that expire at the
end of August 2010.
“As AUPE’s leaders, we need to be
thinking of ways to approach bargaining
in more challenging economic
circumstances,” he said. “We need to
emphasize the message that public services
are more efficiently and cost-effectively
delivered by public employees. We need
to do more to build solidarity among our
members in every sector – and not to
be trapped into fighting to preserve one
AUPE job at the expense of another.
“We need to think carefully about how
we utilize our resources. I believe that with
the prospect of a tough fight ahead of us,
we need to think carefully about where
we put our resources as we prepare for the
challenges ahead.”
Knight noted that economic good times
will return to Alberta at some point.
“It’s important that when they do,
AUPE members are in a position to share
in that good fortune. That will not happen
if we do not recognize the challenges we
face in the short term, and step up together
to meet them.”
AUPE develops legal and representational request policy
In accordance with the resolution of
Convention, AUPE has developed a policy
for dealing with requests by members for
legal and representational services.
Policy 1-2 in the AUPE Policy Manual
divides such requests into two categories
– cases where services are usually provided
through the union and cases where a
criminal or civil suit is involved.
In the first case, the policy states, in part,
that representation, legal or otherwise,
shall be provided for matters arising
from the member’s collective agreement.
8
“Representation for matters arising outside
the boundaries of the collective agreement
shall be limited to matters that impact
a grievance or potential grievance. This
representation shall include professional
licensing investigation procedures
and appeals; regulatory appointment
procedures and appeals; general regulatory
and statutory investigation and procedures
directly impacting employment, Long
Term Disability appeals, and Workers
Compensation appeals.”
In the second case, the policy states:
“AUPE will provide members with
immediate access of up to three hours of
initial consultation with legal counsel at
no cost to the member should the member
be investigated or charged either civilly
or criminally for actions which have
arisen directly out of their employment.
This service shall only be retained and
compensated through AUPE.”
AUPE members with questions
about this policy should contact their
Membership Services Officer.
Strategy: Fighting Privatization
Anti-privatization sub-committees needed by
each local, standing committee advises
AUPE’s Anti-Privatization Committee
recommends that each of the union’s locals
form an anti-privatization sub-committee
to address signs employers are considering
shifting the public services members
provide to private operators.
AUPE members need to be ready to
fight any changes that could affect job
security, the committee said.
In order to help locals take action
when privatization becomes a threat, the
committee has provided a summarized
version of the Anti-Privatization Early
Response Model (PERM) to locals.
The plan’s basic steps to fight against
privatization are:
• Acquire information – The best time
to get started with any action is at the
rumor level. It is vital to collect as much
information as possible and submit it
forward.
• Do research – It is necessary to compile
as many facts as possible and any other
OH&S Code updates
now in effect
Changes to the Alberta Occupational
Health and Safety Code took effect
July 1, including strengthened
measures to protect Albertans who lift
heavy loads, such as health employees
who must lift patients.
Employers are now required
to perform “hazard assessments”
on all loads that pose a risk of
musculoskeletal injury and to do
everything “reasonably practicable”
to reduce the risk, said Union
Representative Dennis Malayko.
Health sector employers are now
required to implement and annually
evaluate a safe patient handling
program wherever workers “lift,
transfer, or reposition” patients, clients,
or residents.
•
•
•
•
relevant information so that AUPE can
mount a credible fight-back campaign
that is supported by valid data.
Identify the players – When the threat of
privatization rears its head, it is critical to
identify those stakeholders that will be
affected and those who will be doing the
campaigning.
Identify supporters – Privatization
affects many groups. Although AUPE
members are directly affected, identify
players that could be approached for
support or alliances.
Cultivate relationships with the media
– An in-depth policy/education on
cultivating relationships with the media
for fight-back campaigns should be
established.
Take visible action – Action should
be immediate and once a privatization
initiative has been identified, AUPE
should issue an immediate public
statement of opposition to the action
(which is why we need to acquire
information and relay it as soon as
possible).
For the full version of PERM, check
the Anti-Privatization Manual that was
previously provided to your local.
Alberta Research Centre jobsite awarded
COR for high standards in safety
AUPE Local 060 members employed
by the Alberta Research Council at
the National Centre for Upgrading
Technology (NCUT) work at one of
the safest jobsites in Alberta, a recent
audit confirms.
NCUT received a Certificate of
Recognition (COR) after receiving
a score of 96 per cent in an audit
evaluating compliance with provincial
Occupational Health and Safety
regulations.
To be recognized, the worksite had
to show compliance with at least 80
per cent of the OH&S standards in
planning, training, prevention, and
reporting procedures.
“Receiving a COR with a score this
high is proof of careful attention to
the matter of health and safety at our
facility,” said Jim Wilson, AUPE Local
060 Chair, who received the certificate
on behalf of NCUT.
The COR is jointly issued by Alberta
Human Resources and Development
and a partner organization such
as Alberta Association for Safety
Partnerships.
NCUT is jointly operated in Devon
by the Alberta Research Council and
the National Research Council of
Canada.
AUPE represents approximately 240
ARC employees in Edmonton, Devon,
Calgary, and Vegreville.
9
Advocating: Grandparents Day
Health cuts put under spotlight at
Grandparents Day Picnic
by Christy McPhillamey
Communications Staff
More than 1,000 AUPE members,
seniors, media reporters and others joined
President Doug Knight in expressing
concern about cuts in public health care
during the Grandparents Day Picnic
Sept. 10 on the south lawn of the Alberta
Legislature.
Knight praised the contributions made
by the senior citizens to our province and
our nation in both peace and war, and
lauded the employees who serve Alberta’s
seniors in extended care facilities across the
province.
“We are here to demand that the
government restore the facilities that have
deteriorated due to cuts and closures since
the mid-1990s,” Knight told the crowd.
“Our health care facilities, including
Alberta Hospital Edmonton, were and
are world-class facilities, and it would be a
crying shame to have the care provided in
these facilities disappear.”
Knight urged everyone at the picnic to
sign the union’s petition to save the beds at
Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
“We were concerned when we first heard
rumors of closing beds at Alberta Hospital
Edmonton,” he said. “Of the 410 beds at
10
Volunteers man the fires at the annual AUPE Grandparents Day Picnic.
the hospital, about a quarter are dedicated
to geriatric patients.”
Albertans have since learned that
Alberta Health Services plans to relocate
geriatric psychiatric services to a Caritas
facility on the west side of Edmonton,
while eliminating many other acute care
beds at AHE.
“Alberta Hospital serves not only
Edmonton, but the entire province, and
even the territories to the north, assisting
more than 1,700 people annually with
severe psychiatric illness,” Knight noted.
This year’s event was the seventh annual
AUPE Grandparents’ Day Picnic on the
Legislature grounds. Each year the event
has been organized by the union’s standing
Women’s Committee.
Communications: Online
New AUPE.org is coming!
Some people think of a Website redesign
as a new coat of paint on your living room
walls. The look of the whole room changes
when blue walls replace tan ones, and
suddenly the room looks new again.
But a Website redesign is actually
more like bringing in a contractor to gut
the entire house, add new features like
windows, doors, hardwood, and built-in
multimedia hookups, and then put on that
coat of paint. The house is completely new,
right down to the walls themselves, even
if you do rearrange your old furniture in it
once it’s done.
Just like renovating a house, a Website
redesign is not a project to be embarked
upon lightly – so when AUPE decided to
redesign its Website, it was with specific
goals and specific needs in mind.
The goal: We want you, AUPE’s
members, to be able to find the
information you need on our Website
when you need it.
The need: We need a Website that’s easy
to update and maintain, so that it stays
relevant. The AUPE’s current Website
needs three different types of software to
by Vanessa Bjerreskov
Communications Staff
?
The generations of AUPE.org: peach, to white, to…something new!
run, which makes updating and providing
consistency difficult.
The content of AUPE’s Website will be
reviewed and reorganized as well. Look for
the new Website to have the information
members want and need about agreements,
bargaining, and AUPE events, as well as an
archive of photographs and news.
We’ve already received some feedback
from the members on what’s good and
what needs to be improved. We’d like to
continue hearing from you as the redesign
moves ahead. Your feedback will help us
make sure our website meets your needs!
Delegates will see a preliminary design
sketch of the new Website at AUPE’s
Annual Convention, Oct. 22-24, 2009.
The anticipated launch date of the new
site will be before the New Year. We look
forward to introducing you to the new
AUPE.org!
Union gets a
new Webmaster
AUPE welcomes Vanessa Bjerreskov,
(pronounced “biasco”) as Webmaster.
She will take the lead redesigning
AUPE’s Website and managing online
content. Bjerreskov
comes to AUPE
after four years as
Executive Director
of the Alberta
Fencing Association,
where she just
completed a web
Vanessa
redesign project.
Bjerreskov
She was also a
competitive fencer.
“I’m happiest in my work when
I know that it’s helping people
somehow,” she says.
AUPE members line 49th Avenue in Red Deer Sept. 17 to protest government
plans to close beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
11
Feature
AUPE ignites campaign to
by Mark Wells
Communications Staff
12
AUPE President Doug Knight
speaks to more than 600
participants in a town hall
meeting on mental health.
A
news release from Alberta Health
Services was sent out quietly and
without warning, late on a Friday
afternoon on Aug. 14 in an attempt to softpeddle a disastrous announcement. Buried
under warm and fuzzy words about an
“evolution of community-based treatment”
the statement was clear: beds would be
closed at Alberta Hospital Edmonton.
Earlier the same week, Alberta Hospital
Edmonton’s 13 laundry employees learned
that they were being pushed out as the hospital
moved to a contracted service, but not a word
had been uttered about bed closures. When
AUPE brought the decision to light, it sent
shock waves across the city, and the public
reaction was immediate.
A meeting between Alberta Health Services
managers and AUPE representatives including
President Doug Knight, senior union staff
and Local and Chapter leaders representing
Auxiliary Nursing and General Support
Services employees was called immediately
unit – a minority of the 410 total beds.
Moments after the managers left the
boardroom, Knight struck a fight-back
committee of members and union staff to
Building the campaign
The fight-back committee quickly set out a
short-term course of action to get support,
get allies, and take action.
Worth Fighting For
“We have a world class facility at Alberta Hospital Edmonton and the government wants
to close it down. The forensic unit is the only one guaranteed to stay open, so of the 410
beds out there, 300 could be closed… Alberta Hospital is a required facility, no matter
how many patients are moved into the community. This hospital is worth fighting for and
that’s what AUPE is trying to do. We’re speaking for those that can’t speak for themselves.”
Doug Knight, President, AUPE
save Alberta Hospital. If the government
was allowed to close acute mental health
care hospital beds without a challenge –
beds that were already in shortage – then
there was no telling where they would stop.
The first order of business was to hold
a meeting at Alberta Hospital Edmonton
to build members’ support. Without
them behind the effort, the committee
recognized, the campaign could never
succeed. There was little need to worry –
(continued on next page)
Alive Today!
“What is the price of a life? My son is
alive today thanks to Alberta Hospital.”
Roseanne (no last name given)
after the announcement. At the meeting, held
at AUPE headquarters in Edmonton, the
AHS managers insisted the decision to close
parts of Alberta Hospital Edmonton had
come from “a very high level” and there simply
wasn’t any money in the infrastructure budget
to redevelop the hospital.
The corporate spin they put on
the situation was difficult to swallow.
Announcing the closure of beds first would
give AHS the opportunity to engage in
“consultation” with the community, they
claimed. But the fact that beds would
be closed was non-negotiable. The only
beds that were unequivocally left off the
chopping block were 110 in the forensic
Part of the crowd at the Sept. 2 town hall meeting in Edmonton.
13
Feature
continued
more than 200 attended, and nearly half of
them signed up to volunteer.
Already Struggling
“I have clients today who are
schizophrenic and bipolar and we are
already struggling to meet their needs.
We need more beds, for more people.
It sickens me at the thought of losing
what we have.”
Thea Comeau, Sexual Assault
Centre of Edmonton
The next step: find allies. Again, there
was little to worry about. Community
social agencies, affordable housing
advocates, mental health professionals,
individuals working in criminal justice and
law enforcement, opposition politicians,
and mental health advocates were writing
letters to the editor and speaking out in
news stories in massive numbers.
After a week of work, an infrastructure
of committed members and community
support was in place, and the committee
began planning the first major action,
a town hall meeting that would bring
together people from across Edmonton to
share their concerns about the government’s
plan to shut down part of Alberta Hospital.
Time was of the essence, so the
committee gave itself just one week to
book a hall, speakers, and equipment,
organize volunteers, and advertise to
promote the event. The committee’s goal
was to fill 350 seats and get coverage in
all major media outlets. The union staff
and Local and Chapter representatives
on the fight-back committee forged
ahead, pulling all the necessary elements
into place: media, members, advertising,
seating, speakers, phone banks, e-mail lists,
Twitter contacts, Facebook fan-outs, event
thought – saving Alberta Hospital
Edmonton would be the first priority in
the effort to save public health care in
Alberta.
The September surprise
AUPE President Doug Knight and the
fight-back committee were greeted by the
intimidating sight of 350 empty seats and
an empty media platform at the rear of the
hall when they entered the Italian Cultural
Centre in North Edmonton half an hour
before the meeting was set to begin.
Volunteers buzzed around the hall in white
Keep Those Beds
“The medical staff at Alberta Hospital Edmonton is absolutely unanimous in the
view that we must save Alberta Hospital Edmonton… Even if they could create
the needed community resources, we still need to keep those beds open for the next
patients coming in. All of the specialized programs already have huge wait lists.
When you’re trying to find someone an acute care bed, it’s almost impossible to find
one in the system.”
Dr. Krista Leicht, psychiatrist, Alberta Hospital Edmonton
volunteers, and more.
Everyone working towards the Sept. 2
event was preoccupied with a single
t-shirts emblazoned with a hospital-bed
logo and giant text calling on citizens to
“Save Alberta Hospital Edmonton,” but
the sea of vacant red seats was worrying.
Clockwise from top left: Order of Canada recipient Austin Mardon, PhD; AUPE President Doug Knight;
Alberta Hospital Psychiatrist Dr. Krista Leicht
14
The minutes ticked by, and as President
Knight visited with his fellow panel members
Dr. Krista Leicht, a psychiatrist at Alberta
Hospital Edmonton, and Austin Mardon,
a PhD holder and schizophrenic who won
the Order of Canada for his mental health
advocacy, members of the public trickled
in. By 7 p.m., when the event was scheduled
to begin, droves of people were cascading
through the door. Volunteers quickly set
out more chairs. By the time Knight and
the rest of the panel took the stage, the hall
was filled, wall-to-wall, with nearly 600
people: members, other concerned citizens
and journalists from every major news
organization in Edmonton.
For two hours, speaker after speaker
shared tales of how their family members
and friends depended on Alberta Hospital
Edmonton to get them through some of
the most difficult and dark parts of their
lives. Psychiatrists from across the region
decried the cuts. Union leaders pledged
solidarity to AUPE’s cause.
The audience was moved from standing
ovations to tears by the stories told, but
by the end of the night the mood of those
gathered had shifted from one of fear
and desperation to hope. Over half of the
audience handed in forms confirming that
they would volunteer in the campaign
to save Alberta Hospital Edmonton, and
Neglect Not New
“I worked at Alberta Hospital for 30 years. The process of neglecting Alberta Hospital
Edmonton and trying to close it down is not a new one. The current financial
situation is just another excuse… The challenge is to have enough beds and enough
community care and the reality is we don’t have enough of either in this province.”
Dr. Brian Bishop
No Help
Where Will My Friend Go?
“I promise, most people don’t want a group home in their neighbourhood. Can you
imagine if the group home is for someone who is actively psychotic and in need of a
secure facility… I have a friend with schizophrenia who goes off his medication about
once a year, as many of you know is the pattern. He was just released from Alberta
Hospital. Where will he go the next time his illness tells him his medication is poison? ”
Austin Mardon, PhD, Order of Canada recipient and schizophrenic
the event was the top story on every TV
newscast in the city.
In a meeting with Alberta Hospital
Edmonton staff a week after the event,
even Dr. Patrick J. White, the former
clinical director of mental health services
at Alberta Hospital Edmonton, confirmed
that the union’s campaign had shaken the
halls of the Alberta Government.
A movement had begun.
“My wife was brutally murdered by a
mentally ill person, which was my
brother. My family did its best to get
him help… we asked for help every place
we could find, and there was no help
whatsoever.”
Mike Butler
Major Impact
“The beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton form part of an integrated system of psychiatric
services. They cannot be closed without major impact… they cannot be replaced by
community beds.”
Dr. Bill McCay, psychiatrist, Grey Nuns Hospital
15
Activism: Mental Health Care
AUPE launches TV advertising campaign
to save Alberta Hospital Edmonton
The campaign to stop the government
from closing acute mental health care beds
at Alberta Hospital Edmonton received
a major boost in mid-September when
AUPE launched a series of three new
television advertisements.
The TV ads feature real-life people
speaking about the damaging effect
the acute care bed closures will have on
the health care system, and patient and
community safety.
Dr. Krista Leicht, a psychiatrist from
Alberta Hospital Edmonton, appears in
one advertisement to tell the public that
the beds at Alberta Hospital “are always
full” and that we can’t afford to lose them.
In another advertisement, Deborah
Hatch, a defence lawyer and President
of the Alberta Criminal Trial Lawyers
Association, makes the case that closing
beds at Alberta Hospital will mean more
people with mental illness flooding jail
cells and the court system.
The third advertisement features Sandra
McCallum, a young woman whose brother
relies on Alberta Hospital to stabilize him
during serious schizophrenic episodes, when
“I work with psychiatric patients.
But I’m not a doctor. I’m a criminal
defence lawyer. When they can’t get a
hospital bed, many of those patients
wind up in courtrooms and jail cells,
desperate, frightened and suffering.”
Deborah Hatch,
President,
Alberta Criminal Trial
Lawyers Association
he can be a danger to himself and others.
AUPE President Doug Knight closes
each advertisement telling viewers that the
union’s campaign is about “community,
health, and safety” and asking them to
visit AUPE’s campaign Website at www.
savealbertahospital.com. The Website
encourages visitors to sign AUPE’s petition
to save the hospital and write their MLAs.
The success of the AUPE image
campaign, which relied heavily on television
advertising to demonstrate the many
benefits our members’ work provide to
Albertans every day, has spurred the union
to continue utilizing this powerful medium
to promote awareness of major issues.
The advertisements can be viewed at
www.savealbertahospital.com, AUPE’s
Facebook page, or by going directly to
www.youtube.com/albertaunion.
The success of the AUPE image campaign, which relied heavily on television
advertising to demonstrate the many benefits our members’ work provide to
Albertans every day, has spurred the union to continue utilizing this powerful
medium to promote awareness of major issues.
Dr. Krista Leicht
Psychiatrist, Alberta Hospital Edmonton
16
Doug Knight
President, AUPE
Sandra McCallum
Sister of patient
The Save Alberta Hospital Edmonton
campaign kicked off in Edmonton
on Sept. 2 with a town hall meeting
attended by more than 600 concerned
citizens. The momentum quickly picked
up with a letter writing campaign,
petition and TV ads. Here’s a look at
some of the activities.
17
Executive candidates
outline their platforms
AUPE’s 2009 Annual Convention will see the election of a full slate of executive officers to two-year terms.
In this edition of Direct Impact, as in each election year, AUPE publishes platform statements for each
candidate for President, Executive Secretary-Treasurer and Vice-President who chooses to submit one.
The statements are for the use of convention delegates, who will vote for the various Executive Committee
positions, and for the information of all members.
Candidates who have made submissions to this section may not be the only candidates for these offices,
as nominations may be taken from the floor during Convention, and often are.
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Doug Knight
Local 005
Red Deer
Greetings to the membership of our great
Union, I hope everyone enjoyed their
summer. As incumbent President, I spent a
lot of it thinking about our Union, its status
as largest in Alberta, where we’ve been,
where we’re going and how we’ll get there.
As I look back at our recent
accomplishments, I am reminded of the
compassion, conviction and courage of
our members. We have compassion for
each other and those we represent, we
have conviction in who we are and what
we stand for, and we have courage to do
what must be done to prove it. That’s why I
originally sought election for President and
why I’m proud to seek another term.
Our challenge is clear. If there was ever
a time to protect and invest in public
18 EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
services, it is now. The global recession
has affected Alberta with alarming force,
creating a downturn that will affect every
sector of our membership and we have
a responsibility to protect our members
from its impact. We have an obligation
to members and to the public to hold
employers and politicians accountable to
provide publicly funded and delivered
services. Albertans need to know public
services will be available, competently
delivered and represent an investment
in our communities and culture. When
we fall short in our obligations and
commitments to society, it affects the
wellbeing and equality of every citizen.
AUPE has the will and power to
improve working and subsequently
living conditions for Albertans. We can
mobilize, seek common ground with
other organizations and even work with
employers to find what is best for all.
Often times employers and government
will be our adversaries, but that doesn’t
mean we can’t work together to find
solutions. Over the past three years, I have
established relationships with politicians
and decision-makers needed to develop
those creative and workable solutions.
We have made positive gains from our
“Another Day” public relations campaign,
showing Albertans that layoffs, rollbacks
and privatization are no answer.
Of course there will be battles to fight and
win, but we must choose those strategically
to have the desired effect and garner public
support to our issues.
AUPE is a powerful and creative voice
for change when we share beliefs and
work together. To effect positive change,
I, as your President, need all your voices
working as a unified team.
I believe in a strong Union committed
to fairness, equality and respect. I believe
in a strong membership that is informed,
educated and empowered. We need
members motivated by convictions,
passionate and confident in their beliefs.
I can continue to lead you, the members,
with objectivity and accountability to
protect and enhance the quality of life for
all AUPE members.
With my experience, commitment and
conscientious work ethic, I am determined
to make AUPE the Union that members
and Albertans alike can trust to look out
for their interests. To that end, I ask for
your support and vote this Convention for
another term as your President.
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Guy Smith
Local 006
Edmonton
Dear Fellow AUPE members
Although much of the activity around
AUPE Presidential elections focuses on
the delegates who attend Convention
where the elections take place, I believe
it is important to take this opportunity
to address all of you: the dedicated
professionals represented by AUPE in
Health Care, Provincial Government
Services, Education, Boards and Agencies,
and Local Government services.
Tough times are ahead for all of us as the
Government and other Employers use the
current economic environment to try to
force us to take concessions and cutbacks.
Tough times demand Strong Leadership:
the kind of leadership that I have
steadfastly dedicated to the membership
of AUPE over the past 20 years on my
worksite, in my Local (006) and as an
AUPE Vice-President. During that time I
have successfully organized and motivated
our co-workers to take action to protect
their jobs, and the essential services they
provide, from cutbacks and privatization.
Candidate Messages
Therefore, as President, I will be focussing much
attention, resources and effort into internal
organizing and making AUPE stronger and
more visible at your worksite, and raising the
profile of the important work you do, in the
media and in the public consciousness.
Also, I will ensure that more support is
provided to our worksite leaders, activists,
and stewards so they can continue to help
build a stronger membership, because
it will take all of us working together to
overcome the serious challenges ahead.
As for me, I am ready, prepared and able to
provide to you all my years of Leadership
experience along with all the knowledge,
passion, dedication and plain old hard
work that goes along with it. I believe you
deserve nothing less.
Although it was important for me to use
this opportunity to highlight for you how,
as AUPE President, I intend to work hard to
make a difference at your worksite there are
obviously many more significant areas that I
intend to focus on as AUPE President.
Limited space here does not allow me to
share my full vision and action plan for
a stronger, more visible, and more active
AUPE, so please visit my website at www.
electguysmith09.com to learn about my
platform and my background in AUPE.
I also encourage you to contact me via
email at [email protected].
In Solidarity for a Stronger AUPE
Guy Smith
I passionately believe that AUPE must
vigorously oppose cuts or any other efforts
to undermine our ability to proudly do our
jobs providing essential public services to
the people of Alberta.
I also know personally, as an AUPE activist
and leader, the challenges of balancing work,
raising children, commitments to family and
community, and of course, union activity.
I realize it’s unrealistic to expect all of you
to be activists in our union. However, I do
firmly believe all of you can and should play
a greater role by being informed to make
key decisions and participating in AUPE’s
democratic processes. This will be essential
when we are in contract negotiations.
EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY
TREASURER
CANDIDATE
Bill Dechant
Local 004
Edmonton
Dear Delegates and Members,
I’m seeking your support for re-election as
Executive Secretary-Treasurer of AUPE.
During the past four years I have enjoyed
working with members, leaders and staff
for the benefit of all our members. Our
time together has gone by very quickly.
In this extremely busy position, I have
managed to fit in a great number of
activities, meetings, social events and
celebrations, including:
• Numerous business and committee meetings
• Worksite tours
• Hundreds of meetings of Locals,
Chapters and Area Councils
• Involvement in Change the Law Campaign
• Information pickets/days alongside our
members on Strike
• Member of Union Negotiating Team &
Staff Selection Team
Getting to know you, discussing your
concerns and receiving your feedback has
been enjoyable and interesting. I look
forward to more of the same in the years
ahead.
During the past four years I’ve
provided leadership in many of AUPE’s
accomplishments. My Number One
priority has been to ensure we have
financial resources to meet the needs of
our members. Our Reserve Funds are now
larger than ever. We have increased our
Defense Fund & Members’ Benefit Funds.
This allows us to bargain from a position of
greater strength, provide superior services
and educational programs and prepared to
deal with any future potential crises. We
also have additional funds to help members
in special times of need.
We are Alberta’s Largest Union, the
Union of Choice! We can all be proud to
be members of AUPE. My unrelenting
commitment is to work hard for this
continued success.
I have developed policies and guidelines to
assist Local and Chapter Treasurers. In the
coming year, one of my goals is to attempt
to re-activate more Area Councils. My
experience in Building Maintenance has also
been of great benefit, particularly in keeping
the major renovation of our headquarters
on time and up to our quality standard.
I have a long record of service to AUPE —
over 40 years. Like many of you, I began as
a steward and progressed through Chapter
(continued on the next page)
EXECUTIVE ELECTION 19
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
and Local positions. This has taught me
to work hard for members in a spirit of
friendship and collaboration. I am a Unionist
because I believe in strength through unity.
Accountability, experience and proven
performance are the strengths I offer you.
I will continue to dedicate my skills and
experience to sound management of our
finances and resources. As Executive
Secretary-Treasurer, you know my
commitment is to remain fully accountable
to our members.
Please call me with your questions and issues at
930-3302 (office) or 232-3870. You may also
reach me by email at [email protected] or
[email protected]. Of course, I am
ready to answer questions at Convention and
meet with Locals as requested.
I look forward to the weeks ahead as we
prepare for Convention, which I’m confident
will be a productive time. With your support,
I also look forward to the privilege of
continuing to represent you in the future.
In solidarity,
Bill Dechant
EXECUTIVE
SECRETARY
TREASURER
CANDIDATE
Tonya Malo
Local 054
Edmonton
Welcome Convention Delegates,
As workers and their families unite across
this province to stop this governments
attack on our public services – AUPE
members prepare to elect the leaders
for their voice in this fight. As your
next Executive Secretary-Treasurer, I
will be your voice. I am committed to
positive change in the overall operation
of our Union, fostering greater team
work, transparency, and timely effective
communication. Good leadership
recognizes team effort. With the help
of members and the AUPE Finance
20 EXECUTIVE ELECTION
Candidate Messages
Department staff, I will oversee the
finances of this Union while maintaining
our strong financial foundation as we
prepare for the struggles ahead.
As the Chair of the third largest Local,
my experiences during the last five years,
coupled with the current issue of the
Alberta Health Services amalgamation
have made me realize that the time has
come to give this Union back to the
membership that is the foundation of
its very existence. Talking to members
continually and participating in many
Union activities have taught me that
mobilization of the membership truly
lies with each individual member. I am
a supportive leader, who listens to the
workers and the challenges they face. I
have and will continue to speak up on the
issues, to improve working conditions and
negotiate better contracts.
Communication is the most vital and effective
tool to increase the activism needed. There
are several ways of effectively communicating
in this technological era. I am committed
to utilizing current systems as well as
supporting Locals and Chapters in doing the
same. Membership organizing will be more
successful with better lines of communication.
As a member of AUPE Standing
Committees, Local Committees and
Edmonton Area Council, I have gained
knowledge of the inner workings of our
Unions four sectors. During the last three
years, I have seen the need for greater
communication amongst our sectors and
Locals. Consequently we now have Local
Chairs meetings within which we can
address Local concerns and build networks
for workers to unite across the province.
I will work diligently with the Executive
team to do everything possible to encourage
participation, organize our members and
build successful campaigns. Some examples
include holding brown bag information
sessions on worksites, creating Localspecific training to support current activists,
internally organizing to create consistent
operation of Chapters, Locals and Area
Councils, and hosting community functions,
just to name a few. All of this takes continual
work and effort as well as dollars to raise the
profile of AUPE within the Locals, Chapters,
worksites and automatically spill over into
our communities.
I am determined to help our Union be a
strong force throughout Alberta. It’s through
a team of strong committed leaders that we
will inspire workers to make a choice to be
heard. As an activist whose heart and soul is
dedicated to AUPE, along with my Families
support, I am asking for your vote to become
Executive Secretary-Treasurer. Being financially
responsible and member driven is the only way
that makes sense - Malo makes cents!
In Solidarity,
Tonya Malo
Local 054
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Sandra Azocar
Local 006
Edmonton
Brothers and Sisters: My name is Sandra
Azocar and for the past two years I have
proudly served as a Vice-President of the
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.
Once again I humbly ask for your support
for the position of Vice-President.
I started working for the Government of
Alberta in 1987, and from the first day of
work, my proudest moment has been when
I learned that by virtue of my employment
I had also became a Union member. I’m
a proud member of Local 006 – Chapter
14 and I’m currently employed at the
Edmonton Crisis Unit providing Child
Protection Services.
Shortly after starting work I became
involved as a worksite contact, a Union
Steward, and in 1990, a Strike Captain
during the 22 days of Local 006’s illegal
strike. Additionally, I have acted as a
Chapter Chair, Vice Chapter Chair, Local
006 Council member, and Local ViceChair for a number of terms; and for the
past two years Vice-President of AUPE.
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
While in this position I have attended a
number of training courses, conferences,
social, political, and community events. I
have been the chair of AUPE’s Women’s
Committee as well as the Chair of the
Human Rights Committee. I also proudly
represent AUPE as a member of the Board
of Friends of Medicare.
During these past two years I have been
very fortunate to be able to take advantage
of many educational opportunities that
were afforded to me as a Vice-President. I
believe that with this privilege comes the
responsibility of giving back all that I have
learned.
From a very young age I was taught that
we have the responsibility to denounce
injustices and take actions to correct them.
I was taught to always live fighting so that
we can all enjoy the dignity and value that
we all deserve as human beings. I consider
myself a Trade Unionist first and foremost,
the values of justice, equality and social
cohesiveness are the values that I attempt
to live my life by. As a Vice-President my
goal has been geared towards making this
statement more than just words but to turn
them into action.
The achievements and gains that we have
made as workers have not come easily a lot
of people have fought with their lives to
be where we are now, we cannot afford to
forget this struggle and we must not take it
for granted.
We must always strive to speak out against
injustices and fight for each one of our
members, for all Albertans, and for all
those whose voices have been silenced.
My vision for this great Union is that
we become more than just a labour
organization, but that we create a union
whose members are tied by the bonds of
family. Through this sense of family, we
create solidarity. Solidarity strengthens
the Union movement and it is one of the
fundamental values of trade unionism.
I believe that I can still give much more to
this organization and I’m humbly asking
for your support for the position of VicePresident.
In solidarity
Sandra Azocar
Candidate Messages
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Lorriane Ellis
Local 002
Edmonton
“Leaders should do what is in the best
interest of the membership, not what is in
the self serving interest of themselves and
friends…”
Unknown
Convention is just around the corner. I will
seek re-election to the position of VicePresident.
• I was elected on a platform of experience,
honesty, knowledge, creativity and the
ability to get tasks accomplished.
• I ask tough questions, get answers,
ensure membership issues are raised and
addressed.
• My openness and honesty may not
always be appreciated, but as a leader of
our Union, I always address issues, even
when they are not popular.
• Every member has the right to be heard,
questions answered, and be treated with
respect and dignity.
• I listen to our members, raise the issues
at the Executive and Provincial Executive
levels and provide recommendations
and solutions for betterment of all our
members, not just a select few.
• I was the Chair of the Occupational
Health & Safety Committee and
accomplished the following:
• Rewrite of Gov/ AUPE Occupational
Health and Safety Program with
rollout in June of 2009
• Memorial located at AUPE
Headquarters for union members, who
have been injured or killed in the job
• Developed and implemented a
new Occupational Health &
Safety Committee Advocate education
program to help members be actively
involved in the field of OH & S
• OH & S must remain a top priority
within our workplace during the next
year and I have proven my ability to
get things done
• I chaired the Membership Services
Committee and accomplished to
following:
• Chaired new Area Council Chairs’
meeting enabling the social side of
our union to be heard on a regular
basis providing support to Area
Council Chairs
• Sub Committee on Technology
reviewing up to date technology and
how we use it within AUPE
• Redesign of new AUPE website for
easier access for members will be rolled
out at 2009 Convention
• Opening of the Provincial Union
Boutique, including implementation
of on-line shopping
• Union Stewards’ Recognition saw
approximately 1100 Union Stewards
receive a $100 cheque and a $50 PUB
gift certificate
• Planning for a Union Steward
Education Retreat for 2010 is well
underway
• Review of Education courses is
presently underway as well
AUPE is again under attack by the
Provincial Government, who, in my
opinion, are hiding behind a smoke and
mirrors 7 billion dollar deficit
Strong leadership for AUPE is needed to
ensure our Government and employers do
not take the same road they did in the late
80’s and early 90’s and quickly and quietly
laid off 22,000 members
I ask for your support, as I have proven,
experienced, honest, strong leadership and
have the ability to get the job done
If you have any questions, concerns or
issues you would like to discuss with me,
please email me at [email protected].
Lorraine Ellis
Candidate for VP
EXECUTIVE ELECTION 21
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
Candidate Messages
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Pervis Fisher
Jason Heistad
My name is Pervis Fisher and I am
announcing my candidacy for one of the
Vice-President positions with our great
union AUPE.
Greetings! My name is Jason Heistad
from Olds College, Local 071/002 and
I have served as AUPE Vice-President
for two terms. The upcoming 2009-2011
Executive will have many challenges as our
Province continues to face fiscal restraints
of the recession. The 2010 bargaining for
General Services must give the government
a message regarding the importance of
all service areas. Cut backs do not equal
quality public service. Bargaining can be
seen as a tool to educate the Government,
grass roots members and the public of the
important roll AUPE serves to both its
members and Alberta.
Local 009/059
St. Albert
I spent my early childhood growing up on
a farm. I was raised by my grandparents
in rural Philadelphia, Mississippi, where
I learned the value of hard work, honesty,
and integrity.
I also got the chance to experience
legalized social injustice and racism. My
birthplace was formerly known as one
of the primary flash points for the fight
against racial and social inequality. The
movie “Mississippi Burning” was loosely
based on the struggles of my home town.
As a little boy, my first hand experience
climaxed when the school bus that my
grandfather was driving was blasted with
shotgun pellets, because some people
didn’t want the schools to be integrated.
As an adult, my drive to succeed led me to
gain a Bachelor of Management Degree.
I’m currently pursuing a Social Work
Degree.
I currently work for the Government
of Alberta in General Services (Local
009) providing support to children with
disabilities. I also work for Alberta Health
Services (formerly AADAC) (Local 059),
in the Youth Residential/Detox program.
My passion for helping people allowed me
to become active with AUPE. I’m looking
forward to the opportunity to serve.
Local 071
Innisfail
As Vice-President, I have chaired the
Women’s, Human Right’s, COPA and
Young Activist committees; I continue
to learn and grow with every challenge I
face. The Executive of AUPE has a huge
responsibility for all 74,000 members
across the province. The opportunity
to work for all of you continues to be a
great honour and privilege. I have enjoyed
working with everyone within AUPE,
from members to staff and Executive and
if elected look forward to continuing this
ongoing relationship.
All sectors will be facing challenges over
the next couple of years the down turn in
the economy. This undoubtedly has many
of us concerned about the future of our
positions. We need to continue to raise the
profile of all sectors and the importance
of the duties we all hold as a necessity to
a healthy, educated and well-managed
province.
We have to be vigilant about contracting
out our services, changes in Health
Care & Education and cutbacks to our
Government & Boards/Agencies. We
had a huge win this past spring with the
22 EXECUTIVE ELECTION
Age Care strike in Medicine Hat. The
ladies had fought a long and hard battle
with a ruthless employer to make gains to
improve their own collective agreement.
Their goal was parity, which has been a
right to so many Health Care workers
before them in our province. This had
shown me/AUPE that it is the individual
battles we face as a Union which help to
build a stronger camaraderie amongst the
membership.
The Government is predicting a 7 billion
dollar deficit due to the decrease of natural
resource revenue. AUPE is also a natural
resource for the citizens of Alberta. Once
you cut back essential services it takes years
to recover from the cutbacks. The province
cut back close to 20,000 members in the
early 1990’s. Many of these valuable assets
went on to find work around the globe
or neighboring provinces. Today we are
facing similar comments from the MLA’s,
Treasury Board, and people who do not
believe in the work we accomplish every
day. It is up to all of us within the AUPE
membership to describe the importance of
our positions and be brash about the duties
we fulfill.
“Tough times never last, strong Unions
do.”
Go to You Tube and view my Re election
video by searching, “ Re elect Jason
Heistad 2009”.
In Solidarity,
Jason Heistad
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Sandy Kyle
Local 046
Stony Plain
Hello Brothers and Sisters of AUPE,
My name is Sandy Kyle and I am officially
announcing my intention to run for one of
the Vice-Presidents of AUPE.
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
We live on an acreage just outside of
Stony Plain and have a son, RJ; two
granddaughters, Harmony and Summer;
two “adopted” grandsons, Andrew
and Cody and soon we’ll have another
granddaughter, due at the end of August.
I have a long history of volunteering
throughout my adult life. Ten years were
spent with the Girl Guides of Canada:
first, as a leader throughout my daughter’s
involvement; then, when she was finished,
as the District Commissioner for the
area for a number of years. I’ve also spent
approximately 8 years involved in minor
sports in my community, with my son:
organizing away hockey games, looking
after all the financial requirements
involved, etc.
I have been in the Union for 35 years as
an LPN at the Glenrose Rehabilitation
Hospital, working with brain injury
patients. Before coming to AUPE in 1999,
my Union involvement was very limited.
Since the merger with AUPE, I have been
very active as a Chapter Chair/Treasurer/
Secretary and as a Council Representative.
I then ‘added’ some Local flavour to my
life, when I became the Local Treasurer
in our newly formed Healthcare Local.
I held that position for 9 years and was
then elected Local Chair, which has been
another big learning curve for me.
I have sat on the AUPE Finance
Committee for the past 6 years and have
enjoyed that very much, although the
rest of the Committee say I ask too many
questions.
I have also been on the Bargaining Team
for the past 4 rounds of ANC Multi
bargaining, I’ve been involved in 2 job
actions and info pickets, both in the
healthcare sector and other sectors within
AUPE. I have become very passionate
about AUPE and our members’ ongoing
plight for fairness, the direction our
members want our Union to go and what
is most important to them.
This Union has given me so much
education and yet I feel that I have only
touched the surface of many, many areas
within this great, diverse Union.
It would be a privilege to meet as many
Candidate Messages
Local/Chapter members as I can, prior to
Convention. Please send me the meeting
dates, times and a place, if you would like
me to come out and answer questions
or just meet you all. I will try to get to as
many meetings, as I can — I work day
shifts and weekends.
I am asking for your support in this
adventure. If you can assist with my
campaign I any way, please let me know. I
would appreciate any help. Thanks for your
time.
In Solidarity,
Sandy Kyle
Chair, Local 046
[email protected]
(h) 780-963-5384
(c) 780-235-2130
(f ) 780-963-5639
cutbacks and privatization of jobs within
our union. We have fought, and continue
to fight, for fairness and justice for all
members. Now is the time for us to explore
further opportunities to join with other
unions who face the same challenges
that we are facing now. It is time to put
aside any differences and focus on our
similarities and on our common goal.
Perhaps together we can become a force
to be reckoned with. If I am elected as
your Vice-President for another term, I
can promise you my ongoing energy and
efforts to see our plans to fruition.
The Pay and Social Equity Committee
visited The Mustard Seed in Edmonton
and Calgary for a second time this
year. Again the opportunity to go on a
humanitarian mission was both moving
and enlightening and we came away from
the experience with a clearer knowledge of
the urgency of this issue. We will continue
to be involved with this, and other
assistance programs, in an effort to educate
the members of this union on this ongoing
battle taking place in our own backyards.
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Erez Raz
Local 003
Edmonton
My second year serving as your Vice
President is quickly coming to a close.
I have enjoyed it immensely. With the
support and vast knowledge of the various
groups that I have consulted with, I have
learned a great deal about the operation
of this great union of ours. I took what
I learned and was passionate in my role
as a Vice-President and as a voice for the
members of this union. I had the honor and
privilege of attending numerous meetings
and events both locally and away. My role
as Vice-President was made much easier
by the warmth and welcoming manner in
which I was received by members and their
families. Thank you to all!
For the past two years I chaired the
following standing committees of AUPE:
The Anti–Privatization Committee
was especially busy due to outsourcing,
The Environmental Committee was a
highly rewarding committee to be on as
I had the opportunity to see the birth of
a new branch of the AUPE family from
the beginning. This committee did a great
deal of brainstorming and it has already
suggested many simple changes that can be
made in our own homes and offices. I am
excited about the huge potential that this
committee will offer our members in the
coming years.
AUPE has become an important part of
my professional life as well as my personal
life. This has been a most enriching
experience and I hope that my openness
and desire to assist can be freely observed.
I have felt a deep sense of purpose and
satisfaction in my many dealings on behalf
of our union and it is my fondest wish to
continue my role as Vice-President.
Please consider this my formal request for
re-election as your Vice-President for the
upcoming term.
Yours in solidarity,
Erez Raz
EXECUTIVE ELECTION 23
EXECUTIVE ELECTION
2009
Candidate Messages
what is required to create a strong union.
To achieve anything we must work as a
cohesive group.
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Philipia Bates Renouf
Local 001
Edmonton
I ask for your support in my campaign.
We already know that the years ahead
will provide us with huge challenges - and
opportunities. The costs of privatization
of our quality services, bed closures and
program cuts would affect us all. We
must work to keep our jobs from being
undervalued, or sold to the highest bidder.
My name is Philipia Bates Renouf. I am
running for the position of Vice-President
of AUPE at the October 2009 convention.
I am prepared to work hard for the
members of AUPE.
I have been involved in our union for more
than 10 years at many levels: as a work site
steward, council representative, convention
delegate, local executive member, local vice
chair and chair and active member of many
committees.
• Very active in AUPE’s Change the Law
Campaign.
• Chair of AUPE’s largest local.
• Served on the Anti-Privatization Standing
Committee for the past four years.
• Chaired the Edmonton Area Council
for the past three years.
• Active at rallies that affect our
members, including rallies opposing the
privatization of our Health Care System.
• Active in the 2009 Save the Alberta
Hospital Edmonton Campaign.
I understand the issues at our work sites: the
need to maintain fair wages and benefits,
and to eliminate unfair competitions,
classifications, disrespect, lack of training
and unfair language in the collective
agreement. The next round of collective
bargaining may well be the most difficult
in the history of AUPE. Our union
needs activists at the top who will work
to maintain the achievements of previous
generations, and reflect the needs and
interests of our members today. In the years
ahead we will have to work together to hold
on to our salaries and benefits. Collective
bargaining and protection of our members
are our most important mandates.
Education, communication and
mobilization are key components of
24 EXECUTIVE ELECTION
VICE
PRESIDENT
CANDIDATE
Glen Scott
Local 045/055
Calgary
Greetings Brothers and Sisters,
I hope you all had a safe summer and took
some time to relax and reflect on what the
future holds for us and the priorities for
yourselves and your families. I took some
time to reflect and have decided to seek
nomination and run for on of the VicePresident positions that will be filled at
our Convention in October. For those of
you, who don’t know me or don’t know a
lot about me- my name is Glenn Scott, I
live in Calgary and have been a Licensed
Practical Nurse since 1994. I have worked
for Alberta Health Services since early
1996 and I also hold a casual position
at the Calgary remand Centre, which, I
find, adds some variety and perspective
to the many roles our members perform
each day. I live with my partner and our
two wonderful children, aged 10 and
13. I have held many elected positions
within the Union, with Local 055 and
045, and have been fortunate enough to
be on several committees. I am currently
the Treasurer of Local 045. Working with
members over the years has taught me to
trust the knowledge of others, to seek out
different opinions and to work collectively
to reach common goals. The next few years
will present us with new obstacles and
challenges and I am committed to engage
these tasks through continued consultation
with the members of this Union who
are active, committed and talented, and
who bring much knowledge and a mosaic
of perspectives to this organization, by
way of culture, type of employment,
geography and life experience. We are a
Union made up of many members with
many differences, but we share more
commonalities than not. We need to stick
together as an organization and recognize
that although we do many different jobs,
every sector has different challenges and
we must work collectively to meet those
challenges. Change is something we
must continue to do and address, we as
an organization are faced with change
now and in the near future, now that the
government has made decisions that will
cut spending in all areas of government
and will impact all our members in many
ways. We as an organization must work
together to continue to improve, move
forward and take on our present and future
challenges through consultation with our
grass roots members, let’s be transparent
in our decisions and let the public and the
government know how important and
valuable our members are in this province.
We want to be visible in the media and
in our communities and we need to work
hard to maintain and improve ourselves
in these areas as the coming years will be
very challenging to all our members and
our union and require a lot of hard work to
overcome them. This union has overcome
hard times before, we will work together
and do it again and I hope I can be part
of the executive that you, the members
choose to be your voice for the next two
years. See you in October.
In Solidarity,
Glen Scott
AUPE in
2008-2009:
Facing
downturn
with
confidence
based on
strength
While some positive trends from previous years continue, the Alberta
Union of Provincial Employees confronts a dramatically different
situation in the 2008-2009 financial period than it did a year earlier.
Last fall, the general economic situation in Alberta seemed
promising. The same could be said of prospects for AUPE
members in all sectors. Today, the province’s economic picture
is more clouded and the impact on our members is uncertain.
Governments and employers in all sectors are attempting to exploit
worldwide recessionary conditions to roll back wages, reduce
benefits and threaten the job security of working people.
But despite the potential impacts of economic conditions, and
while there are reasons for AUPE to conduct itself prudently, there
are also good reasons to feel continued optimism about the future.
AUPE continued to grow steadily through the past year. In June 2009,
membership surpassed 76,000. Growth is anticipated to continue in
the next fiscal year, although at a much more modest rate.
Negotiations in the health care sector were largely wrapped
up last year, leaving no major health bargaining on the horizon.
Important agreements in other sectors were also signed in 2008 and
early 2009. However, AUPE must face the prospect of negotiating
the General Service agreement for direct government employees in
the summer of 2010, at a time when negative economic conditions
can be expected to continue.
Thanks to AUPE’s size, diversity and prudent fiscal management,
our proposed budget for 2009-2010 is expected to realize a modest
surplus of $29,000 of revenue in excess of expenses, with revenue
exceeding $35 million.
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
09
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
09]
[
MESSAGE
FROM THE
PRESIDENT
Doug Knight
The theme of AUPE’s 2009 Convention will be “Public Services – Right Answer for Tough Times.”
Given the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves, I believe this says it all.
The summer before last, crude oil prices were at record heights, and it seemed as if times could never
be better for Albertans, including AUPE members. Within a year, all that changed. Oil and gas prices
plummeted. The provincial government, which had based its plans on optimistic forecasts, saw revenues
fall dramatically. Average salary increases in all sectors fell quickly, and continue to fall. Suddenly the
talk was all cutbacks, rollbacks and hiring freezes. We are dealing with general hiring freezes now with
the Alberta Government, Alberta Health Services and many other employers.
Inevitably, some Albertans tried to use the economic conditions to justify privatization of
government services, reduction of public services and cuts in public-service funding. Recently, we have
seen this played out in health care, the government service, education, municipal governments and
everywhere AUPE has members.
While this situation may seem grim, I believe there may be reasons to feel hopeful for the future.
We know that “public services are the right answer for tough times.” Study after study of health care,
education and other public services clearly show this.
Our 2008 and 2009 image advertising campaigns have had a positive impact on public awareness of
the work done by AUPE members, public perception of that work’s value and public attitudes favouring
public-sector employees over those from the private sector. Our vigorous fight to save mental-healthcare beds at Alberta Hospital Edmonton is daily gaining traction with the public.
AUPE was fortunate to complete several major
In 2010, I anticipate a
bargaining rounds before the worst of the recession hit.
continuation of some of the
This put us in the position of having solid agreements
challenges we have faced
in place in our largest health care bargaining units, and
gave us the precedent to achieve similar goals for smaller
this year – but also generally
improving economic conditions bargaining units. When a private sector employer tried
to get tough and squeeze rollbacks out of our members,
and a return to more normal
they fought in solidarity. It took a month-long strike, but
relationships with employers,
members at the Valleyview Care Centre in Medicine Hat
large and small.
achieved a great victory for all of us. They did so with the
strong financial and moral support of their sisters and brothers throughout this union.
While our growth has slowed with the recession, it has continued – reaching more than 76,000
members in mid-June. So, while this has been in some ways a difficult period, it has also been one in
which our committed membership has shown that it can meet the challenges of tough times and set the
stage for better times ahead.
In 2010, I anticipate a continuation of some of the challenges we have faced this year – but also
generally improving economic conditions and a return to more normal relationships with employers,
large and small.
In Solidarity,
26 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
09]
MESSAGE FROM THE
EXECUTIVE SECRETARYTREASURER
[
Bill Dechant
As we prepare for AUPE’s 33rd Annual Convention Oct. 22-24, at which our 2010 Budget will
be considered, working people throughout the world face challenging economic times not of their
own making. Those of us who work as public employees in Alberta are no different. Yet, despite the
difficulties, AUPE is on a sound economic footing and I feel confident we can weather this storm and
look forward to a bright future.
Despite the dramatic downturn in the economy, AUPE has continued to see membership growth
through the past year. In June 2009, our membership surpassed 76,000. I expect this growth to
continue at a more modest rate through the rest of 2009 and into 2010. Slower growth is an inevitable
result of the general slowdown in the economy and partial freezes on hiring at the government of
Alberta, Alberta Health Services and other employers.
Continued growth over the past several years has given AUPE a strong foundation of financial
security, allowing us to increase the size of our Defence Fund. Unfortunately, volatility in the
investment markets has also continued and we are still receiving lower-than-average returns from our
investments, somewhat offsetting our increased revenues from rising membership. But despite the
gloom of the past two years, over the long term we remain confident AUPE’s investment portfolio will
recover and perform as expected. Already we have
I am always mindful that the money seen signs of modest improvement.
AUPE spends on union operations
The goal of our investments is to give us the
comes from the dues paid by our
foundation needed to bargain from a position of
members. It remains my commitment strength. When one bargaining unit faces a labour
to deliver the best possible service for dispute – as the brave staff of the Valleyview Care
Centre in Medicine Hat did last winter and spring
the lowest possible cost.
– the rest of us are there to support them. Our
underlying financial stability also allows us to provide superior service to AUPE members in all sectors,
whether negotiating contracts, resolving disputes, conducting arbitrations or providing education,
research or communications services. Careful and responsible stewardship of our funds ensures we will
be able to continue to provide the essential union services AUPE members have come to expect.
Our proposed budget for 2009-2010 will realize a modest surplus of $29,000 of revenue in excess of
expenses, with revenue exceeding $35 million. I am always mindful that the money AUPE spends on
union operations comes from the dues paid by our members. It remains my commitment to deliver the
best possible service for the lowest possible cost.
In Solidarity,
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 27
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
09]
ACTIVITIES IN
2008/2009
The Executive Committee
AUPE is led by an elected Executive Committee made up of the President, the
Executive Secretary-Treasurer and four Vice-Presidents. The President and Executive
Secretary-Treasurer serve as full-time officers of the union. Vice-Presidents receive
time off with pay from their regular jobs as required.
The President is AUPE’s Chief Executive Officer. Besides supervising the affairs
of the union and acting as chief spokesperson, the President assigns duties and
responsibilities to the other members of the Executive Committee.
The Executive Secretary-Treasurer is the Chief Financial Officer of the union,
responsible for financial affairs and accounting records. The Executive SecretaryTreasurer must ensure that all expenditures conform to the budget passed as the
Annual Convention.
All members of the Executive Committee are elected to two-year terms at
Convention in odd-numbered years. If a position is left vacant, a by-election may
be held at Convention during an even-numbered year or by vote at a Provincial
Executive Meeting in the case of a Vice-President.
Doug Knight
President
Sandra Azocar
Vice-President
28 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Lorraine Ellis
Vice-President
Bill Dechant
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Jason Heistad
Vice-President
Erez Raz
Vice-President
Staying on track
in a period
of economic
uncertainty
AUPE’s Convention theme
for the October 2009 Annual
Convention is “Public Services
– Right Answer for Tough
Times.”
This summarizes the
best way for governments
to approach the situation
in late 2009 as worldwide
economic conditions remain
in an unstable and depressed
condition. Unfortunately,
many employers, including
some governments, are using
the recession as an excuse to
roll back recent economic gains
made by working people.
However, AUPE is mounting
a vigorous response on many
fronts, and we anticipate being
in a stronger position than most
unions when general economic
growth returns to the Alberta
economy.
AUPE continues in its strong
commitment to the highest
quality member services at
regional offices throughout the
province, ensuring that in bad
times as in good, we remain the
Union of Choice in Alberta.
For more information
about the operations of
AUPE, read the online
version of this financial
statement at
www.aupe.org.
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
09]
AUPE
LEADERSHIP
Provincial Executive
AUPE’s provincial Executive is made up of the Executive Committee plus one representative elected by each local.
The Provincial Executive, commonly known as PE, is the union’s governing body between conventions.
PE meets a minimum of six times per year to conduct the business of the union.
The members of the Provincial Executive are:
President
Doug Knight
Local 005, Red Deer
Executive Secretary-Treasurer Bill Dechant
Local 004, Edmonton
Vice-President
Sandra Azocar
Local 006, Edmonton
Vice-President
Lorraine Ellis
Local 002, Edmonton
Vice-President
Jason Heistad
Local 071, Olds
Vice-President
Eraz Raz
Local 003, Edmonton
Local 001 Audrey Randall, Peace River
Local 002 Milo Steele, Edmonton
Local 003 Derrick Karbashewski, Red Deer
Local 004 Andy McDonald, _________
Local 005 Mike Dempsey, Lac La Biche
Local 006 Melanie Metcalf, Medicine Hat
Local 009 Darrol Mason, ___________
Local 010 Bill Gibbons, Red Deer
Local 012 Mark Ellis, Vulcan
Local 020 Lori Nemirsky, St. Albert
Local 038 Rod Feland, Edmonton
Local 039 Brianne Collins, Calgary
Local 041 Myrna Wright, Pincher Creek
Local 042 Lindsay Scheideman, ____________
Local 043 Brenda Thacker, Peace River
Local 044 Judy LeBlanc, Red Deer
Local 045 Joanne Zawada, ____________
Local 046 Joanne Spencer, Redwater
Local 047 Julie Jacques, ______________
Local 048 Sheila Veldhoen, Calgary
Local 049 Liberty Pestano, Edmonton
Local 050 Larry Reid, St. Albert
Local 052 Dan Tilleman, Calgary
Local 053 Blair Ruff, Lethbridge
Local 054 Margaret Heil, Edmonton
Local 056 Lynne Hansen, Sangudo
Local 057 Cherelyn Stefaniszyn, Blackfalds
Local 059 Yrsa Nielsen, Grande Prairie
Local 060 Jim Wilson, Edmonton
Local 069 Bonnie Nahornick, Calgary
Local 071 Cathy Bittman, ______________
Local 095 Karen Weiers, Airdrie
Local 118 Karen Sputek, Edmonton
29 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
How AUPE is run
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
09]
AUPE
STRUCTURE
Among the sections that serve out 76,000
members are the following
COMMUNICATIONS AUPE’s Communications Section produces
many publications and runs the union’s Website. It is also responsible for
communications with the media and members, running union advertising
campaigns and producing published materials to assist with bargaining,
education and organizing.
DISPUTES & ARBITRATION Disputes & Arbitration staff act as resources
to labour relations staff in bargaining, interpretations, court activities,
arbitrations and any activities involving the Alberta Labour Relations Board.
Between July 1, 2008, and the same date in 2009, ____ grievances were filed
on behalf of AUPE members, __ legal files were open or pending actions
before the LRB and another __ were open pending action before the courts.
UNION EDUCATION The Education section offered training and
conferences at various locations throughout the province. During the fiscal
year, Education staff offered 65 union training courses to 1,046 members.
In addition, about 250 members attended the union’s annual spring labour
school, held this year at the Jasper Park Lodge.
NEGOTIATIONS Staff of AUPE’s Labour Relations Section dealt with
members’ day-to-day problems from offices throughout the province,
responding to discipline, dismissals and unfair treatment by employers. They
also handled formal grievances and organized local and chapter meetings.
The section is also responsible for negotiations, with bargaining for more
than 70 collective agreements affecting over 14,000 members taking place
during the fiscal year.
MEMBER SERVICES AUPE provides members with special ,services
in addition to those traditionally associated with unions. These include
commercial discounts negotiated with retailers and service providers,
with details on aupe.org, education bursaries to members , their spouses
and children, and a special benevolent fund for members in dire financial
emergencies.
RESEARCH AUPE employs professional research staff to back up
negotiators and to support other union staff involved in disputes and
arbitrations, communications and education. AUPE’s researchers analyze
government policies and legislation, prepares background papers and
economic data to assist with bargaining.
UNION STEWARDS AUPE maintains high visibility on its worksites
through Union Stewards and Worksite Contacts. These volunteer members
act as the membership’s front line of defence against contract violations,
communicate union activities and mobilize members during bargaining.
30 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
CONVENTION AUPE’s governing
body is the union’s Annual Convention,
which takes place each year in October.
Each AUPE local is entitled to send
one delegate for every 100 members. At
Convention, which is traditionally held
in Edmonton, AUPE’s constitutional
amendments are instituted, policies are
established, and operating procedures
are determined. The union’s six-member
Executive Committee is elected by
delegates to Convention every oddnumbered year.
LOCALS & CHAPTERS AUPE
members are organized into locals
and chapters to aid in bargaining and
contract administration. Members of
some of AUPE’s 32 locals work at one
location in a variety of jobs. Other locals
represent a large number of people who
share a community of interest across
Alberta. Others represent larger groups
at different worksites, sometimes with
more than one collective agreement.
Large locals are often divided into
chapters to make administration and
participation in union activities easier.
Locals and chapters have democratically
elected executives.
AREA COUNCILS Area councils are
set up geographically to serve the social
needs of members, regardless of their
local or chapter. They are financed by
union headquarters to organize such
social events as barbecues, seasonal
parties and events promoting union
membership.
AUPE OFFICES AUPE has offices
throughout Alberta to provide local
services to members. In addition to
union headquarters in Edmonton,
regional offices are located in Peace
River, Grande Prairie, Athabasca,
Camrose, Red Deer, Calgary and
Lethbridge. There is also a satellite office
in downtown Edmonton. Each regional
office has permanent staff to look after
members’ interests. Each provides space
for meetings and training courses.
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 31
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Statement of Financial Position
As at June 30, 2009
Current assets
Cash and equivalents
Accounts receivable, Note 2
Inventory
Prepaid expenses
2009
$
Assets
2008
$
4,096,221
3,131,263
92,246
301,284
1,189,408
2,688,284
79,843
479,125
7,621,014
39,297,812
6,578,655
4,436,660
35,283,443
6,514,216
53,497,481
46,234,319
Current liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, Note 5
Current portion of obligations under capital lease, Note 6
Current portion of deferred leasehold inducements, Note 7
4,003,410
264,333
14,059
2,974,579
164,191
45,234
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, Note 5
Obligations under capital lease, Note 6
Deferred leasehold inducements, Note 7
4,281,802
1,141,974
733,647
43,963
3,184,004
1,100,410
403,242
58,022
6,201,386
4,745,678
5,580,675
7,207,154
25,542,644
2,869,248
1,732,655
913,021
1,033,090
2,417,608
5,946,783
5,314,829
23,206,755
2,909,280
1,906,498
912,991
1,033,090
258,415
47,296,095
41,488,641
53,497,481
46,234,319
Restricted investments, Note 3
Capital assets, Note 4
Liabilities
Invested in capital assets
Contingency fund reserve
Defence fund reserve
Severance fund reserve
Public Relations Campaign fund reserve
Labour Laws Campaign fund reserve
Dues Suspension fund reserve
Accumulated operating surplus
Net Assets
SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE:
Doug Knight, President
Bill Dechant, Executive Secretary-Treasurer
The accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
32 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
-2-
(863,180)
497,072
-
Excess of revenue (expenditures)
Investment in capital assets
Internally imposed restrictions
Repayment of internal financing of
operations
Unrealized gain on
investments, Note 3
5,946,783
(708,800)
5,314,829 23,206,755
(56,918)
51,505
672,087
4,334,536 4,900,202
(717,738) (3,133,944)
2,909,280
(104,072)
103,321
106,699
-
$
$
$
1,732,655
-
-
1,906,498
-
(393,502)
2,300,000
-
Public
Relations
Campaign
$
-
30
1,033,090
-
-
-
1,033,090
2,417,608
-
(3,851,682)
7,076,363
(497,072)
(568,416)
258,415
912,991
-
(659,036)
533,804
-
1,033,090
-
258,415
-
8,841,827
(1,081,412)
32,576 (12,207,817)
3,851,682
Labour
Dues
Accumulated
Laws
Suspension Operating
Campaign
Fund
Surplus
$
$
$
1,038,223 1,000,514
854,135
913,021
-
-
-
912,991
-3-
The accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Balance, end of year
-
(904,891)
1,081,412
-
Balance, beginning of year
Change in accounting policy
Excess of revenue (expenditures)
Investment in capital assets
Internally imposed restrictions
Internal financing of operations
Unrealized loss on
investments, Note 3
Invested
in Capital Contingency Defence
Severance
Assets
Fund
Fund
Fund
$
$
$
$
5,770,262 1,703,444 21,477,210 2,803,332
2,869,248
122,556
-
2008
Internally Restricted Reserves
7,207,154 25,542,644
1,007,999
1,906,498
$
Public
Labour
Dues
Accumulated
Relations
Laws
Suspension Operating
Campaign Campaign
Fund
Surplus
(1,473,843)
(162,588) 1,300,000
5,580,675
210,260
-
3,133,944
(272,731)
(1,533,323)
Balance, end of year
717,738
-
964,327
$
2,909,280
5,314,829 23,206,755
$
5,946,783
$
Balance, beginning of year
$
Severance
Fund
Invested
in Capital Contingency Defence
Fund
Fund
Assets
2009
Internally Restricted Reserves
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
$
41,488,641
(869,790)
826,913
6,884,398
-
Total
$
34,647,120
47,296,095
1,340,815
-
4,466,639
-
41,488,641
Total
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 33
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Statement of Operations
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
Revenue
Membership dues
Less component rebates, Note 14
Building rentals
Sundry
Local contributions - Public Relations Campaign, Note 1
Expenditures
Advertising and publicity
Affiliation fees, Note 15
Allocation to Members' Benefits Funds, Note 16
Amortization
Awards, presentations and donations
Consulting and professional fees
Equipment rental
Furniture and equipment purchases, Note 17
Insurance
Interest - capital leases
Interest and service charges
Legal fees
Loss on disposal of capital assets
Office rental
Postage
Printing and reproduction
Property taxes
Repairs and maintenance
Salaries and benefits
Staff recruitment and relocation
Strike pay
Supplies
Telephone and communications
Travel, subsistence and time-offs
Utilities
Excess of revenue from operations
Income (loss) from investments, Note 19
Excess of revenue over expenditures
2009
$
2008
$
34,317,375
(3,967,952)
29,622,323
(3,589,928)
30,349,423
278,229
16,400
-
26,032,395
262,764
112,798
463,992
30,644,052
26,871,949
2,044,632
333,495
1,282,687
853,850
381,795
353,196
667,077
409,673
175,478
61,675
10,605
640,403
9,330
527,869
278,953
246,874
116,832
462,949
11,054,087
3,845
111,677
249,658
174,319
3,530,982
300,465
2,090,918
292,419
115,480
822,254
226,053
281,809
589,191
286,255
155,296
56,821
6,805
481,609
82,637
508,355
295,788
155,297
97,921
440,156
10,422,844
58,594
384,410
160,019
2,962,703
317,497
24,282,406
21,291,131
6,361,646
(1,895,007)
5,580,818
1,303,580
4,466,639
6,884,398
The accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
34 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
-4-
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Statement of Cash Flows
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
2009
$
Cash provided from (used in)
Operating activities
Excess of revenue over expenditures
Items not affecting cash
Amortization of capital assets
Amortization of deferred leasehold inducements
Loss on disposal of capital assets
Realized loss (gain) on disposal of restricted investments
Impairment loss on restricted investments
Changes to non-cash operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Prepaid expenses
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
4,466,639
853,850
(45,234)
9,330
395,727
2,844,952
8,525,264
(442,979)
(12,403)
177,841
1,070,395
9,318,118
Financing activity
Payments on obligations under capital lease
(255,490)
Investing activities
Purchase of restricted investments
Proceeds on disposal of restricted investments
Purchase of capital assets
Proceeds on disposal of capital assets
2008
$
6,884,398
822,254
(55,327)
82,637
(16,313)
7,717,649
(206,358)
36,945
(269,787)
(84,302)
7,194,147
(387,886)
(7,852,517) (12,125,112)
1,938,284
4,837,812
(323,847)
(845,176)
82,265
151,650
(6,155,815)
(7,980,826)
Increase (decrease) to cash and equivalents
Cash and equivalents, beginning of year
2,906,813
1,189,408
(1,174,565)
2,363,973
Cash and equivalents, end of year
4,096,221
1,189,408
Supplemental disclosure
Interest received
936,060
981,731
Dividends received
481,806
426,396
72,280
63,626
686,037
459,133
Interest paid
Non-cash transactions excluded from the statement of cash flows
Acquisition of assets under capital lease
The accompanying summary of significant accounting policies and notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
-5-
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 35
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
Organization
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees was organized in 1976 as successor to the Civil
Service Association of Alberta. The Union gained statutory status in 1977 with the passage of
the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Act. The Union is a not-for-profit organization and
is exempt from income tax pursuant to Section 149(1)(k) of the Income Tax Act.
Use of Estimates
These financial statements have been prepared by management in accordance with Canadian
generally accepted accounting principles. Because the precise determination of many assets,
liabilities, revenue and expenditures is dependent on future events, the preparation of financial
statements for a period necessarily includes the use of estimates and approximations which
have been made using careful judgement. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
These financial statements have, in management's opinion, been properly prepared within
reasonable limits of materiality and within the framework of the accounting principles
summarized below.
Cash and Equivalents
Cash and equivalents consist of cash on hand, deposits with financial institutions and shortterm interest bearing securities with a maturity of three months or less.
Revenue Recognition
The Union follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions. Restricted
contributions are deferred and recognized as income at the time the related expenditure is
incurred. Membership dues and sundry income are recognized as revenue in the period to
which they relate if the amount can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably
assured. Rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease
agreement. Interest and other investment income on internally restricted reserves are
recognized when earned.
Lease Inducements
Lease inducements received are credited against office rental expense on a straight-line basis
over the terms of the leases.
Inventory
Inventory is valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value using a first-in, first-out
inventory assumption.
36 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
-6-
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
Capital Assets and Amortization
Capital assets having a cost of $1,000 or more are capitalized at their original cost. All other
capital assets are expensed in the year of acquisition.
Amortization is recorded on a straight-line basis using the following annual rates, without
residual values:
Building
Building improvements
Furniture and equipment
Computer hardware and software
Automotive
Leasehold improvements
2%
6.67%
20%
20%
20%
8% and 20%
Controlled Entity
The Union controls the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Members' Benefits Funds (The
Funds). The Funds are administered by the Members' Benefits Committee in accordance with
Article 27 of the Union's Constitution. The Funds are not subject to federal or provincial
income taxes due to their not-for-profit status under the Income Tax Act. Since note
disclosure provides a more meaningful presentation, the accounts of The Funds are not
consolidated with those of the Union. A summary of financial information with respect to the
controlled entity is provided in Note 16.
Pension Plan
The Union maintains a defined contribution pension plan. The expense for the plan is equal to
the Union's required contribution for the year.
-7-
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 37
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
Financial Instruments
The Union as part of its operations carries a number of financial instruments. Unless otherwise
noted, it is management's opinion that the Union is not exposed to significant interest, currency
or credit risks arising from these financial instruments. The fair values of these financial
instruments, except obligations under capital lease, approximate their carrying amounts. The
carrying value of obligations under capital lease is based on the implicit rate of interest at the
inception of the lease.
All financial instruments are classified as either held to maturity, loans and receivables, held for
trading, available for sale or liabilities other than held for trading. Financial instruments are
initially recorded at their fair value.
Assets available for sale and both assets and liabilities designated as held for trading are
subsequently remeasured at fair value at each balance sheet date. Changes in fair value of
assets available for sale are recorded directly to net assets with the exception of impairment
losses, which are included as part of investment income in the statement of operations.
Impairment losses with respect to the investment portfolio, if any, are determined using the
following criteria:
•
•
Inherent losses in excess of 20% of original cost of security; or
Prolonged losses in excess of 9 months from the Union's year-end.
All other financial assets and liabilities are carried at cost or amortized cost using the effective
interest rate method where applicable. All other changes in value are reflected in the statement
of operations.
The Union has made the following classifications:
Cash and equivalents
Accounts receivable
Restricted investments - bond instruments
Restricted investments - equity instruments
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
Obligations under capital lease
Held for trading
Loans and receivables
Available for sale
Available for sale
Liabilities other than held for trading
Liabilities other than held for trading
The fair value of restricted investments is based on the published price quotations in the
periodic reports provided by the Union's investment broker. Purchases and sales of restricted
investments are recorded at the settlement date. Any brokerage fees related to specific
transactions are netted against the sales proceeds or added to the purchase price of the
investment. Regular management fees with respect to the overall portfolio are netted against
investment income in the period to which they relate.
38 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
-8-
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
New Accounting Pronouncements
Recent accounting pronouncements that have been issued but are not yet effective, and have a
potential implication for the Union, are as follows:
Financial Instruments - Disclosures and Presentation
In December 2006, the CICA issued new accounting standards entitled "Financial Instruments
- Disclosures" (Section 3862) and "Financial Instruments - Presentation" (Section 3863) which
may apply to the Union at a future date, but have been postponed indefinitely at the present
time. The Union continues to apply the disclosure requirements of Section 3861 entitled
"Financial Instruments - Disclosure and Presentation" as permitted for not-for-profit
organizations.
Not-for-Profit Standards
In September 2008, the CICA amended Section 4400 series of handbook sections, being the
accounting standards that apply only to not-for-profit organizations.
These sections are applicable for fiscal periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009. The
amendments to these sections allow for certain changes to the presentation of the financial
statements and clarify other existing requirements. These amendments should not affect the
results of operations or financial position of the Union.
-9-
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 39
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
1.
Union Components
Union components consist of locals, chapters of locals and area councils. Component
operations are funded by rebate payments made by the Union to the components. Rebate
payments are based on the number of members of the particular component. Assets,
liabilities, revenue and expenditures related to the operations of the Union's components
are not included in the financial statements, except as follows:
Statement of Financial Position
Component receivables, Note 2
Component payables, Note 5
2009
$
2008
$
238,251
214,289
15,242
17,979
Statement of Operations
Local contributions - Public Relations Campaign
Affiliation fees paid to Area Councils, Note 15
Rebates paid to components, Note 14
-
463,992
263,464
228,263
3,967,952
3,589,928
The Union manages certain investments on behalf of the components and these figures are
excluded from the balance sheet, since they represent assets of the components. Total
amounts held in trust are as follows:
Investment portfolio for components
2.
Accounts Receivable
Membership dues receivable
Component receivables
Employee and members' receivables
General receivables
Expense floats and advances
40 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 10 -
2009
$
828,159
2008
$
828,243
2009
$
2,849,108
238,251
40,737
3,167
-
2008
$
2,385,800
214,289
25,434
55,361
7,400
3,131,263
2,688,284
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
3.
Restricted Investments
Marketable securities are carried at market value of $39,297,812 with an original cost of
$40,844,828 (2008 - market value of $35,283,443 with an original cost of $35,441,705).
These securities are held with respect to the following funds:
2009
2008
$
$
Contingency fund
7,207,154
5,314,829
Defence fund
25,542,644 23,206,755
Dues Suspension fund
1,033,090
1,033,090
Labour Laws Campaign fund
913,021
912,991
Public Relations Campaign fund
1,732,655
1,906,498
Severance fund
2,869,248
2,909,280
Significant components of investment portfolio
Cash accounts, bearing interest at prime minus
2.25% (0%) per annum
Bonds with maturity dates ranging from October
2009 to March 2017, with effective rates of
return ranging from 2.09% to 5.34% per
annum (stated rates ranging from 4.00% to
5.04% per annum)
Canadian equity investments
Foreign equity investments
39,297,812
35,283,443
3,548,098
351,990
21,717,597
7,773,229
6,258,888
20,709,467
9,432,969
4,789,017
39,297,812
35,283,443
It is the objective of management to preserve these funds by limiting the exposure to
significant loss in value. Management manages the exposure by diversifying their portfolio
and primarily investing in low risk investments.
Unrealized gains (losses) reflected in the financial statements are as follows:
Statement of changes in net assets
Statement of operations - impairment loss included in
income (loss) from investments, Note 19
2009
$
1,340,815
(2,844,952)
(1,504,137)
- 11 -
2008
$
(869,790)
(869,790)
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 41
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
4.
Capital Assets
2009
Accumulated
Cost
Amortization
$
$
1,161,113
4,389,867
2,443,690
2,823,945
1,125,966
3,493,422
2,136,765
2008
Accumulated
Cost
Amortization
$
$
1,161,113
4,389,867
2,355,893
2,694,689
947,567
2,883,873
1,798,148
1,722,714
51,221
593,815
1,440,429
49,305
461,287
1,608,007
51,221
580,304
1,310,002
43,555
399,693
14,236,097
7,657,442
13,369,074
6,854,858
Land
Building
Building improvements
Furniture and equipment
Computer hardware and
software
Automotive
Leasehold improvements
6,578,655
Net book value
6,514,216
Capital assets include assets under capital lease with an original cost of $1,432,961 and a
net book value of $1,049,699 (2008 - cost of $904,709 and net book value of $660,701).
5.
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Current
Trade payables and accrued liabilities
Vacation pay, severance and time-off in-lieu
Wages payable
Time-off reimbursements
Trust liabilities
Tenant rental deposits
Component payables
Retirement health care benefits
Long-term
Severance
Retirement health care benefits
42 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 12 -
2009
$
2008
$
1,460,580
1,681,739
422,451
370,000
26,041
17,466
15,242
9,891
527,721
1,524,009
256,567
583,115
35,119
20,178
17,979
9,891
4,003,410
2,974,579
1,130,751
11,223
1,089,186
11,224
1,141,974
1,100,410
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
6.
Obligations Under Capital Lease
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under capital leases
together with the balance of the obligations under capital lease:
2009
$
316,518
307,470
239,924
159,556
101,113
2008
$
211,371
193,111
163,940
96,078
-
1,124,581
664,500
Deduct amount representing interest at rates
ranging from 3.6% to 11.5% per annum
126,601
97,067
Deduct principal due within one year
997,980
264,333
567,433
164,191
Due beyond one year
733,647
403,242
Year ended June 30, 2009
Year ended June 30, 2010
Year ended June 30, 2011
Year ended June 30, 2012
Year ended June 30, 2013
Year ended June 30, 2014
Total minimum lease payments
Assets under capital lease with a carrying value of $1,049,699 serve as security for the
obligations above. Under the terms of the lease agreements, legal title to the assets passes
to the Union only when all conditions of the leases have been met.
7.
Deferred Leasehold Inducements
2009
$
103,256
(45,234)
2008
$
158,583
(55,327)
Balance, end of year
Current portion
58,022
14,059
103,256
45,234
Long-term portion
43,963
58,022
Balance, beginning of year
Amortization
- 13 -
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 43
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
8.
Contingency Fund Reserve
This fund is available to provide funds for the maintenance of the Union's real estate assets
or any other contingencies that may arise in the course of union operations. Disbursement
of funds requires Finance Committee recommendation and approval by the Provincial
Executive. The current allocation to the reserve consists of approximately 1% of
membership dues revenue.
Allocation from membership dues revenue
Transfer as per Provincial Executive motion
Investment income on portfolio
Impairment loss on investments
9.
2009
$
271,524
1,000,000
147,860
(455,057)
2008
$
278,624
4,000,000
55,912
-
964,327
4,334,536
Defence Fund Reserve
The defence fund is designed to assist members during organized labour disruptions.
Allocations to the reserve can be summarized as follows:
Budget allocation
Transfer as per Provincial Executive motion
Investment income on portfolio
Impairment loss on investments
10.
2009
$
622,077
(2,155,400)
2008
$
2,000,000
2,000,000
900,202
-
(1,533,323)
4,900,202
Severance Fund Reserve
The purpose of the severance fund is to cover severance obligations to employees of the
Union. Allocations to the reserve can be summarized as follows:
Investment income on portfolio
Impairment loss on investments
44 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 14 -
2009
$
71,907
(234,495)
2008
$
106,699
-
(162,588)
106,699
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
11.
Public Relations Campaign Fund Reserve
This reserve was established as a result of a motion arising from the 2007 Convention.
Allocations to the reserve can be summarized as follows:
Transfer as per motion at 2007 Convention
Transfer as per Provincial Executive motion
12.
2009
$
1,300,000
-
2008
$
1,300,000
1,000,000
1,300,000
2,300,000
Labour Laws Campaign Fund Reserve
This reserve was established as a result of a motion arising from the 2005 Convention.
Allocations to the reserve can be summarized as follows:
Transfer as per Provincial Executive motion
Investment income
13.
2009
$
-
2008
$
500,000
33,804
-
533,804
Dues Suspension Fund Reserve
The Provincial Executive established the dues suspension fund reserve in fiscal 2007 in
response to a decision by the Alberta Court of Appeal to uphold authorization by the
Labour Relations Board for health care employers affected by the Union's May 2000 strike
to cease withholding and submitting dues for a two month period.
In the opinion of management, the potential reduction in future union dues revenue cannot
reasonably be determined for the following reasons:
•
•
Many of the Bargaining Agents involved in the May 2000 strike action no longer exist
as a result of an overall consolidation of bargaining units arising from legislation
passed by the Government of Alberta. In addition, a number of union members
included in the May 2000 strike action now belong to other unions due to this same
legislation.
Since any benefit from this ruling would attribute to the union members rather than
the employer, the affected union members could still remit their dues directly to the
Union (Section 27).
Any reduction in revenue resulting from this matter will be reflected in operations in the
year incurred. Investment income in the amount of $nil (2008 - $32,576) has been
allocated to the fund.
- 15 -
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 45
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
14.
Component Rebates
Local 1
Local 2
Local 3
Local 4
Local 5
Local 6
Local 9
Local 10
Local 12
Local 20
Local 38
Local 39
Local 41
Local 42
Local 43
Local 44
Local 45
Local 46
Local 47
Local 48
Local 49
Local 50
Local 52
Local 53
Local 54
Local 56
Local 57
Local 59
Local 60
Local 69
Local 71
Local 95
Local 118
15.
Affiliation Fees
Area Councils
Workers' Health Centre
46 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 16 -
2009
$
326,290
236,048
149,234
48,412
82,357
146,302
75,073
37,693
99,965
125,435
75,574
36,558
67,818
19,133
160,628
124,005
137,576
170,695
171,165
145,905
92,889
49,720
156,197
30,005
283,481
125,049
161,390
67,165
24,954
30,219
132,322
315,183
63,512
2008
$
317,042
200,420
129,967
45,832
79,055
137,239
71,826
36,477
93,265
114,994
68,868
33,239
63,279
147,199
108,491
124,234
146,134
162,760
136,366
85,409
45,568
133,154
28,144
248,883
116,286
143,611
62,314
22,999
28,155
122,179
279,460
57,079
3,967,952
3,589,928
2009
$
263,464
70,031
2008
$
228,263
64,156
333,495
292,419
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
16.
Controlled Entity
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Members' Benefits Funds (the "Funds"), consisting
of the Benevolent Fund and the Education Assistance Fund, were established to provide
grants of financial assistance to members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
and their dependents. The Benevolent Fund provides grants in circumstances of
temporary or urgent need. The Education Assistance Fund makes available grants to
enable attendance at post-secondary educational institutions.
A financial summary of the Funds as at June 30, 2009 and for the year then ended is as
follows:
2009
$
Financial Position
2008
$
Total assets
5,362,063
4,447,354
Total liabilities
Net assets - Benevolent Fund (internally restricted)
Net assets - Education Fund (internally restricted)
3,486,528
1,875,535
45,902
2,908,968
1,492,484
5,362,063
4,447,354
Operations
Total revenue
Total expenditures
Excess of revenue over expenditures
1,094,657
(238,910)
329,797
(213,331)
855,747
116,466
Cash Flows
1,178,162
(1,128,689)
Operating activities
Investing activities
49,473
80,588
Increase (decrease) in cash resources
Cash resources, beginning of year
130,061
Cash resources, end of year
49,614
(1,099,728)
(1,050,114)
1,130,702
80,588
Total revenue of the Funds include $1,282,687 (2008- $115,480) of allocations received
from the Union, and $16,100 (2008- $15,500) of donations received from the Locals.
The Union provides accounting and administrative services to the Funds without charge.
- 17 -
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 47
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
17.
Furniture and Equipment Purchases
Computers and equipment
Computer software
Furniture and fixtures
Library
Network equipment
18.
2009
$
18,057
30,171
25,502
110,700
225,243
2008
$
18,965
17,214
32,634
88,483
128,959
409,673
286,255
Employee Benefit Plan
The Union's compensation package includes a defined contribution benefit plan. Salaries
and benefits include RRSP contributions of $1,135,859 (2008 - $1,025,915) in accordance
with this plan. Salaries and benefits also include $96,499 (2008 - $226,736) with respect
to severance entitlements arising from contractual obligations with employees.
19.
Income (Loss) from Investments
Investment income on portfolio
Gain (loss) on disposal of investments
Impairment loss on investments
20.
2009
$
1,345,672
(395,727)
(2,844,952)
2008
$
1,287,267
16,313
-
(1,895,007)
1,303,580
Credit Facilities
The Union has a $1,000,000 operating line of credit which bears interest at prime and is
secured by a demand promissory note, revolving line of credit agreement and a general
security agreement covering all present and after acquired property. The line of credit has
a balance of $nil as at both June 30, 2008 and June 30, 2009.
48 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
- 18 -
FINANCIAL AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
HIGHLIGHTS
09
ALBERTA UNION OF PROVINCIAL EMPLOYEES
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the Year Ended June 30, 2009
21.
Operating Leases
The Union has entered into agreements to lease premises with future minimum lease
payments as follows:
$
303,570
294,896
273,124
246,210
78,027
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
1,195,827
In addition to the above, the Union is also committed to pay its pro-rata share of operating
costs.
22.
Capital Disclosures
The Union considers its capital to be its net assets. The Union's objectives when managing
its capital are to provide sufficient funds to cover both the annual overhead expenditures
as well as provide long-term maintenance and replacement for the Union's capital assets.
Annual budgets are developed and monitored to ensure that the Union's capital is
maintained at an appropriate level.
23.
Comparative Figures - Change in Classification
Certain of the 2008 comparative figures have been reclassified to conform with the
financial statement presentation adopted for 2009.
- 19 -
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 49
Upcoming Events
Annual Convention
Oct. 22 - 24, 2009, Edmonton
(Registration Oct. 21, 2009)
Blood Drive
Oct. 17 - Nov. 14, 2009, Province-Wide
Human Rights Conference
Dec. 9 - 10, 2009, Edmonton
Labour School
Feb. 28 - Mar. 4, 2010, Jasper
www.aupe.org
Return Undeliverable Canadian addresses to:
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
10451 170 St. NW, Edmonton AB T5P 4S7
Publications Mail Agreement 40065207