Calgary Laboratory Services employees to remain members of HSAA

Alberta Labour Relations Board rules against AUPE's application to take over bargaining rights.

Edmonton (05 June 2014) — Members of the Health Sciences Association of Alberta (HSAA/NUPGE) employed by Calgary Laboratory Services (CLS) will remain with the union, thanks to a decision by the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) on  June 2.

CLS workers clearly said they wanted to remain HSAA/NUPGE members

Just over a year ago, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) made an application to the ALRB, seeking to have CLS and Alberta Health Service (AHS) declared a common employer, so all 1,600 CLS employees would become AHS employees.

This almost certainly would have meant that office and clerical members would have been moved to the general support services bargaining unit and woudl have become AUPE members. It might also have led to laboratory assistants moving to the same AUPE bargaining unit.

HSAA/NUPGE defended members' labour rights against AUPE application

HSAA/NUPGE used all of the resources at its disposal to protect the members' interests. Its senior staff,  Labour Relations Consultant, staff researcher, classification analyst and Labour Relations Officers all worked on the ALRB response. Special thanks also go to the Local unit executive, led by Chair Audrey McIntyre.

In its decision, the labour board said, "AUPE's application for a common employer declaration is dismissed on the basis that it has not established a valid labour relations purpose justifying this Board exercising its discretion to grant the declaration sought."

It also said, "There is no evidence here that the alleged common control or direction of CLS and AHS has undermined, or is likely to undermine, established bargaining rights."

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE