FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2002

Labour Relations Board Out of Line in AUPE Ruling

Neutrality of Board tainted by punitive actions, says AFL

The Alberta Labour Relations Board is jeopardizing its fundamental need to be seen to be neutral on labour relations conflicts by its continued insistence upon assessing punitive damages against the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE), the Alberta Federation of Labour says today. The Board yesterday rejected AUPE’s appeal of the two-month suspension of dues ordered by the Board following a strike in the health care sector in May 2000.

"The Labour Relations Board has crossed a boundary with this ruling," charges Alberta Federation of Labour President Les Steel. "Prior to this, the Board – like other such bodies in Canada – has restricted its rulings to efforts to restore or ‘make whole’ damages arising from violations of labour law," said Steel. "But now, long after normal relations have resumed between the effected parties, the Board has chosen to issue punitive damages against the union."

"We have never seen punitive damages issued to employers for willful, and permanently damaging actions against workers," said Steel. "For example, there have been no punitive actions taken against the Economic Development Edmonton for its disgraceful conduct during the ongoing Shaw Conference Centre Strike."

"By taking this unusual and ill-considered action against a union while at the same time refusing to take punitive actions against offending employers, the ALRB is showing itself not to be an impartial umpire in labour relations" said Steel.

"This decision undermines the Board’s function in labour relations while at the same time sending a very bad message to unions, workers and employers in Alberta," concluded Steel.

For more information, contact:

Les Steel, President 780-483-3021