A number of Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and healthcare aide workers at Manoir du Lac seniors’ assisted living facility in McLennan rallied together at the birdwalk last Thursday in a show of strength and solidarity for better wages and working conditions. “The event was essentially set up as a solidarity barbecue to effectively convey the intentions of this group in seeking a Collective Bargaining Agreement CBA with Integrated Life Care Incorporated,” says AUPE union representative Steve Nimchuk, who contacted the Express April 14 to outline the union’s role in representing the interests of the group of 28 employees. “We’re basically starting from scratch with respect to proceeding with negotiations for a CBA between the employees and Integrated Life Care,” Nimchuk explains, adding that negotiating a first collective agreement is always tough in Alberta. “Our responsibility as a union in the negotiating process will include looking at all of the employment ingredients, ranging in nature from wages and benefits, to premiums and vacation entitlement.” The group of LPNs and health care aides received certification with the AUPE back in November of 2007 and has spent the past several months working closely with a bargaining committee (consisting of union representatives) on a proposal to present to Integrated Life Care brass for consideration. “We’re heading to the negotiation table in Edmonton this week to meet with the company and outline our position as a bargaining committee,” says Nimchuk, who won’t speculate on just how long it may take for the two sides to reach an amicable agreement in the form of a new CBA. He says all initial indications thus far are pointing towards a tough first round of negotiations. “We are cautiously optimistic everything can be resolved, but at the same time we are fully cognizant of the fact that it won’t be easy. Negotiations such as these never are,” says Nimchuk.