After a lengthy and challenging process, workers at Hawthorne Optima Living have secured their first collective agreement following binding arbitration.
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) Local 048 Chapter 055, which represents care staff at the Cochrane facility, announced the news Monday. The arbitrator’s decision, issued May 22, concludes the initial round of bargaining and sets out wages and working conditions through to the end of 2026.
The local was planning to hold a rally on April 10 to raise awareness of their ongoing struggle to secure a new collective agreement, but it was postponed after an offer was received.
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The agreement covers the period from Jan. 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026.
Employees who were on staff as of April 8 will receive a one-time lump sum payment—$1,500 for full-time workers and $750 for part-time staff—within 30 days of the decision.
The agreement also introduces new wage grids, with a three-step scale for care aides and a seven-step scale for health care aides and licensed practical nurses, effective immediately. A general wage increase of two per cent across all classifications is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2026.