AUArts support workers ask for 26% raise

Last week, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees published an update regarding contract negotiations for workers they represent at the Alberta University of the Arts.

Previously known as the Alberta College of Art and Design, AUArts is based in Calgary and has been providing arts programming for over 100 years.

These workers, which numbered about 75 as of June 2022, when they ratified their last collective agreement, include workers employed in general support services. AUArts faculty are represented by the Alberta University of the Arts Faculty Association.

As mentioned, their previous agreement expired over a year ago.

They have proposed several improvements for their new collective agreement, most notably a 26% wage increase over 3 years:

Year 1	13.0%
Year 2	6.5%
Year 3	6.5%

Now, you might be sitting here thinking, “Wow. 26% sure does seem like a lot.” That though might be missing some context.

Here are the wage increases they received in their last collective agreement:

1 July 2017	0.00%
1 July 2018	0.00%
1 July 2019	1.00%
1 July 2020	0.00%
1 July 2021	0.00%
1 July 2022	0.00%
1 April 2023	1.25%
1 December 2023	1.50%

So, over that 7.5-year period, they received a combined 3.7%.

Meanwhile, between 1 July 2016 and 1 July 2023, the consumer price index in Alberta rose 30.4 points, from 135.6 to 166. That is a 22.4% increase.

Because these workers received a 3.75% wage increase during a period where inflation jumped by 22.4%, they were actually left with a cut to real wages of 18.67%.

If you think a 26% raise is a lot, surely you must think a cut of nearly 19% is a lot, too.

Now, a 26% increase would definitely make up for that 18.67% loss in real wages, leaving 7.33% for the 3 years of the new contract, or about 2.44% per year.

Keep in mind that inflation between July 2023 and July 2024 alone was 2.65%.

The bargaining committee for these workers, which consist of two educational art technicians and an AUPE rep, initially presented this wage offer back in Feburary.

So, how did AUArts respond? With this.

Year 1	2.00%
Year 2	2.00%
Year 3	1.75%
Year 4	1.75%

That is a combined 7.5%. Not only is that less than a third of what the workers are asking for, it is spread out over 4 years instead of 3.

There is no way that will be enough to cover the shortfall of almost 19% in lost wages in the last two contracts, let alone the effects of inflation on wages over another 4 years.

To be fair, this is larger than what they offered the workers in the last two contracts, which is certainly better than nothing, but it is still a crappy offer.

In last week’s update, the worker’s negotiating team claimed that AUArts refuses to move on their offer.

Here are a few other improvements the workers proposed:

• Increase flex spending account by 50%, from $1000 to $1,500
• Increase shift premium
• Increase weekend premium
• Improve health benefits coverage
• Reduce how long it takes to qualify for 7th week of vacation
• Lowest salary to be $22.98, Alberta’s living wage

As of last week, no new bargaining dates have been set.