In a recent Facebook post, Local 362 of the General Teamsters announced that workers at a Red Deer care home recently received their first collective agreement.
Local 362 represents 17 registered nurses, as well as 126 licensed practical nurses and health care aides, who are employed at Taylor View Towers.
The continuing care facility includes 189 suites, and the careworkers previously mentioned provide various levels of care, including supportive living, type B, type B secure, type A, and alternate.
Previously named Points West Living Red Deer, the facility was renamed in December 2023 and is operated by Saint Elizabeth Health Care.
Interestingly, Point West brought Saint Elizabeth Healthcare into their Cold Lake facility in May 2017 after locking out their workers the previous December, so their support for unionized workers is shaky.
That probably why it took over 3 years to negotiate a collective agreement for these Red Deer workers.
According to Local 362, workers will receive significant raises over the life of the 4-year contract.
| Raise | Top-rate (old) | Top-rate (new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurses | 15.8% | $46.36 | $53.70 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 20.3% | $33.30 | $39.86 |
| Health care aides | 23.3% | $23.96 | $29.32 |
Because negotiations took so long, it had to go to mediation. The mediator issued recommendations in 2024, and the wage increases in that report were implemented in this new contract.
Registered nurses can expect double their regular pay rate for all overtime hours. Licensed practical nurses and health care aides will get 1.5 times their regular rate on the first 2 hours or overtime and double time after that. Plus, overtime now applies to hours outside a regular shift rather than on whether it is over 44 hours weekly or 88 hours biweekly.
Shift premiums will also increase. Evening shift will increase 17%. night shift will increase 38%, and weekend shift will increase 30%.
Workers will get up to 12 paid sick days per year, but they can be carried over to subsequent years, to a maximum of 90 days.
There will be a total of 12 general holidays; although the Facebook post did not list what those were.
Finally, the employer will reimburse workers up to $200 for any professional fees that they have to pay.
