Workers at Edmonton seniors home reach deal
Staff at Devonshire Care Centre in southwest Edmonton have ratified their first collective agreement averting a possible strike.
Workers voted Wednesday on a tentative agreement reached July 19 between the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees and Park Place Seniors Living.
It affects about 180 nurses and other health care employees.
“We weren’t able to achieve everything we wanted to achieve, but this first collective agreement is an important initial step for members," AUPE President Guy Smith said in a press release Thursday.
The three-year agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2012 and brings wages in line with Alberta Health Services current rates of pay over the life of the agreement, he said.
Members will also receive a health and wellness benefits package and RRSP plan.
Staff at Devonshire Care Centre were just hours away from walking off the job before the province appointed a disputes inquiry board on July 2, temporarily removing their legal right to strike.
The agreement was reached with the assistance of lawyer Andrew Sims who also helped settle a two-month strike last week at Hardisty Care Centre in east Edmonton.
Vancouver-based Park Place Seniors Living Inc. owns both Devonshire Care Centre and Hardisty Care Centre.
