Earlier this month, the Collective Bargaining Information Services department with Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade released their April 2024 Bargaining Update.
This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta.
I scanned through the report to see if there were any collective bargaining agreements that were settled in April 2024. One in particular stuck out to me.
Local 1961 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees represents 60 educations workers employed with Elk Island Catholic Schools.
These include caretakers, maintenance workers, electricians, carpenters, mechanics, amd mechanical maintenance technicians.
The most recent contract these workers had with Elk Island Catholic Schools expired in the summer of 2020.
According to the April 2024 Bargaining Update, these workers settled on a new contract with Elk Island Catholic Schools on 17 April 2024, nearly 4 years from when the last one expired.
The April 2024 Bargaining Update includes only information on wage increases, so I can’t compare other changes in the new contract.
The new 4-year contract comes with wage freezes in each of the first 3 years, with two small increases in the final year: 1.25% last June and 1.50% this past February.
I probably don’t need to tell you that this isn’t a large increase for these workers, but that’s not even the worst of it.
According to the educational services wage tables for February 2019 and February 2023, these workers have been screwed over by their employer for a long time.
In fact, over the last decade, these workers have received just one other wage increase: 2% in 2017.
| 2014 | 0.00% |
| 2015 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 2.00% |
| 2018 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 0.00% |
| 2021 | 0.00% |
| 2022 | 0.00% |
| 2023 | 1.25% |
| 2024 | 1.50% |
That’s a total of 4.75% over 10 years. Inflation in 2022 alone was 5.0%.
Actually, speaking of which, let’s take a look at inflation over the last decade and compare it to this new wage raise.
In August 2013, the Consumer Price Index sat at 129.4. By the time 10 years had passed, in August 2023, it had reached 166.8. That’s an increase of 37.4, or 28.9%.
So, when we adjust their wages for inflation—also known as real wages—the 4.75% gain over 10 years ends up becoming a loss of 24.15%.
In other words, for every $4 these workers were making in August 2023 was worth only about $3 in 2013 dollars.
Let’s put it this way: every $1000 these workers made in August 2013 was worth just $758.50. That means that if they wanted to buy the sames things they purchased for $1000 back then, they’d now need an extra $1241.50, or they’d only be able to by $758.50 worth.
Either way you look at it, this has not been good for the workers.
And remember, that’s just inflation to August 2023. It’s likely that inflation will rise even more before this August, which will further weaken the ability of these workers to support their families.
