Striking workers in the Headwaters Health Region have overwhelmingly ratified a Tentative Agreement to bring an end to over three years of bargaining and a 3-week strike.

A solid majority of the almost 100 Community Health Support staff, members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Local 057/007 had walked off the job on April 19 to protest lack of progress in contract talks that began in February 1996. The unit includes administrative staff, hygienists, home support workers, therapy aides, and licensed practical nurses who provide the community health services in the Region.

According to AUPE President Dan MacLennan, a large part of the problem was the Provincial Health Authorities (PHAA), which seemed intent on "drawing the line" at Headwaters, no matter what the Union proposed.

"After three years, the PHAA negotiator was still asking some of our members to accept no pay increases, reduced benefits, no health care benefits, no overtime pay, and hoursof work that violated Alberta’s minimum standards," said MacLennan. "This from a Region that ran a $2.1 million surplus last year! They forced our members to go on strike; there’s no other way of looking at it."

A major focus of the strike, according to AUPE Negotiator Jackie Hill, was the Home Health Aides, who go into people’s homes to look after all of the medical and personal needs of residents.

"As late as last week, the employer was still insisting that these workers accept pay $250 to $440/month less than their counterparts in other regions, and far below comparable classifications in the Headwaters Region itself," said Hill. "Their same was true for clerical staff, some of whom were being offered a full $2.00/hr. less than counterparts in East Central Alberta, where our Union just concluded a collective agreement with no trouble at all!"

"I believe that we got the best deal we could for our members, under the circumstances. Everyone gets a pay increase, some on pay rates, and others in a lump-sum, and there are adjustments on the pay grid for a number of our members. And, we were finally able to get the employer to back off from some really objectionable concession demands they were making when we started."

Following is a chronology of the last month of the dispute: Thursday & Friday, April 8-9: Polling stations were set up in each of the major centres in the Headwaters Region: Vulcan, High River, Black Diamond, Okotoks, Claresholm, Nanton, Canmore, and Banff. Over 90 per cent of the staff voted to walk out when it became necessary.

Thursday, April 15: Following two days of fruitless bargaining, Union Negotiator Jackie Hill served "legal" Strike Notice, informing Headwaters CEO Dwight Nelson that a strike would commence at 0800 Monday, April 19, 1999. It also informed him that the Union was willing to return to the table immediately at any time or location up to strike deadline. Said Hill, "The employer was unwilling to budge on any of the main issues. What is truly maddening is that they refuse to recognize the last three years, we were at the bargaining table; they talk as if those years didn’t happen."

Monday April 19: Members walked off work at all of Headwater centres, at the time indicated in the Strike Notice. The PHAA still refused to move.

Monday, April 26: The Union doubled strike pay, thanks largely to contributions from other AUPE locals. "The size of our Union makes it possible to maintain this level of pay indefinitely," said President MacLennan. "This strike isn’t just about money; it’s about justice."

Monday, May 2: Non-stop bargaining over the weekend between the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and the Headwaters Regional Health Authority broke off again. Progress was made on a few points, but major issues remained in dispute, especially with Home Support Aides.

Wednesday, May 5: Headwaters strikers descended on the Alberta Legislature to tell Provincial politicians to get involved in their dispute. They handed out leaflets, held meetings with Tory, Liberal and NDP MLA’s, and were introduced to the Legislature when it met at 2:00 pm.

Saturday, May 8: Negotiators for the Union and Headwaters Health Authority returned to the table with Headwaters CEO Dwight Nelson and Board member Golding in attendance for the first time. A tentative agreement is reached at about 5:30 pm.

Monday, May 10: Members of Local 057/007 overwhelmingly ratify the tentative agreement. The Headwaters Board does the same. After three years at the table, AUPE members in Headwaters Health Region have an agreement.