Local 80 – APSEA Bargaining Update: Tentative Agreement Reached!

Dear Local 80 member,

We are pleased to announce we have reached a tentative agreement with the employer, APSEA. Your Bargaining Committee is recommending acceptance. The term of the agreement is from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2017. Highlights of your tentative agreement include:

Wage increases:

2% as of April 1, 2012

2.5% as of April 1, 2013

3% as of April 1, 2014

0% as of April 1, 2015

0% as of April 1, 2016

Civil Service wages and benefits are extended to APSEA employees through a re-opener clause in the collective agreement. This includes the wages for 2015 and 2016, shift and weekend premiums, vacations and leaves, and the Public Service Award/Retirement Allowance. These wages and benefits are subject to what the Civil Service achieves. APSEA employees have already received the increases for 2012, 2013, and 2014.

The Civil Service has reached a tentative agreement for a new Master Agreement beginning April 1, 2015 and ending March 31, 2019 and will be holding a ratification vote.

Please note: the current tentative agreement with the Civil Service includes the elimination of the Public Service Award/Retirement Allowance for all new hires after April 1, 2015 and a freeze on the Public Service Award/Retirement Allowance as of April 1 2015 for all current employees. Upon retirement, your benefit will be paid out at the value as of the date you retire, not at the value as of April 1, 2015.

Other improvements made by your Bargaining Committee include: Improvements for interpreters working in public schools province-wide, improvements to lay-off clauses, and enhancement of lay-off severance.

We are currently arranging information/ratification vote sessions for early January and will present the details of the tentative agreement and answer any questions or concerns you may have at these sessions. Please watch for further updates.

Your Bargaining Committee thanks you for your support and solidarity.

Bargaining Committee:

Michael Phelan                                    902-424-8522

phelan@apsea.ca

Billy Meuse                                          902-401-9843

billy_meuse@apsea.ca

Julie Boyle                                           902-865-7953

Julieboyle@hotmail.com

Erica Gray                                           902-402-9756

erikakgray@gmail.com

John Cook, Chief Negotiator

jcook@nsgeu.ca

If you have any questions about this process, please contact the NSGEU by calling 902-424-4063 (toll-free 1-877-556-7438) or emailing inquiry@nsgeu.ca.