Willing to strike: Huge turnout in unprecedented AUPE vote while province claims market woes

Calgary Herald

13-05-2025

Some 23,000 members of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees who are directly employed by the province showed unprecedented turnout and support in last week's strike vote.
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For the subset of the larger 100,000-member AUPE, it was the first major test of union laws compelled by Canada's Supreme Court a decade ago that acknowledged the constitutional right of workers to full collective bargaining rights and strikes.
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With an 80 per cent turnout of members eligible to vote, and 90 per cent voting in favour of strike action if necessary, Western Canada's largest union showed 'huge engagement,' said AUPE president Guy Smith.
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'We've never, ever had a strike vote this large before. It's the first time we've done this in our 106-year history, hold such a large strike vote. And you know, you're never quite sure how it's going to go until you put it in the hands of the members. The members are always right, but I'm so proud that they are engaged and aware of what's going on.'
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Strike action is somewhat restricted by essential service agreements declaring certain critical services must be provided during a strike.
Of the estimated 23,000 members, about 25 per cent are deemed 'essential services' and exempted from taking strike action, including members who are correctional officers and sheriffs who uphold the operation of law and order, and some in social services.
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Finance Minister Nate Horner started Tuesday's news conference with the day's market price of oil, at US$63.85 — a changing figure much touted as central to Alberta revenues and corresponding fiscal planning.
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Noting the 'novel situation' the government finds itself in, Horner said his focus is ensuring 'a fair deal looking at the market evidence.'
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'What I've been saying is that a strike or a lockout won't change the market data,' he said.
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Government pressure with talk of economic woes is nothing new to the negotiation process, Smith said.
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'Always the price of oil comes up, and it's always, 'The government fiscal situation' that really is a barrier to overcome. However, we've seen some recent collective agreements negotiated in this province that we believe fully do recognize and respect the contribution that those workers make,' Smith said.
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'Like every Albertan — every worker in this province — they were absolutely devastated by the high inflation of the past few years, and now they're trying to play catch up. And as a union, it's our role and responsibility to our dues-paying members to support them in doing that.'