Heather Smith explains why UNA’s Negotiation Committee recommends ratification of Mediator’s proposed settlement

With the vote on the Mediator’s recommendation for settlement for UNA’s next collective agreement with AHS and other major employers set to take place on October 30, President Heather Smith told delegates to the union’s Annual General Meeting why their Negotiating Committee recommended they ratify the agreement. 

“The committee determined that it was the best agreement possible under the circumstances we find ourselves in in this moment in history, with this economy, and with this government,” Smith stated in her remarks to the AGM’s more than 1,100 participants, which can now be viewed on YouTube.

The video of her speech has been edited for relevance to negotiations and the October 30 ratification vote. 

“Our Negotiating Committee worked hard to reach an agreement that would be good for you,” Smith stated in the speech, saying she was “honoured to have worked these many months with such fabulous group of men and women.”

“The decision to bring forward the Mediator’s recommendation was a considered and honest conclusion reached by a team of people who have worked together for months to get you the best they can,” said Smith, who was a member of the Negotiating Committee, acknowledging that the recommendations have been controversial with some members.

She noted that the Negotiating Committee presented the Mediator’s recommendations to a Reporting Meeting in Calgary on October 10 that was attended by more than 500 voting delegates from all impacted UNA locals.

They voted “to present the Mediator’s report to all members directly affected by the collective agreement,” she explained. They did so “because we respect our members, and we are committed to respecting the decisions that they do make.”

Key points in the Mediator’s report include:

• Pay increases on the grid of 12 to 22 per cent over the life of the agreement
• An expedited process to challenge inadequate baseline staffing
• Enhanced premiums, coverage of registration fees, and domestic violence leave
• Multiple measures to improve staffing

UNA members are encouraged to visit pay.una.ca to calculate the increases in earnings that they will see if the Mediator’s report is ratified.

An updated Frequently Asked Questions document about the Mediator’s Recommendations will assist members in making an informed decision.

UNA members are reminded to vote on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Members who have provided a personal or @una.ca email address will receive an email link from Election Buddy. Emails will not be sent to employer email addresses. Whether or not members receive an email, they can go to vote.una.ca and select their UNA Local, then enter their Member ID and PIN from their UNA membership card to vote. The vote will conclude at 23:59 hours on Wednesday, October 30. The results of the vote will be shared on October 31.