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LETHBRIDGE An attempt by the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) to raid hospital workers in the Lethbridge area was rejected in a Labour Board vote counted today.

By a margin of almost two-to-one, the general service employees, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) voted to stay with their union.

CUPE Alberta President DArcy Lanovaz was thrilled with the results, saying members compared recent settlements of the two unions and decided CUPE had the better deal.

CUPE just negotiated a sick leave plan, better benefits and improved wages for Lethbridge hospital workers, said Lanovaz. By contrast, AUPE hospital workers in Edmonton lost a number of important benefits.

When members saw that comparison, they knew CUPE was the better choice.

Lanovaz accused AUPE of dirty tricks during the raid campaign, saying they used false pretences to collect signatures on raid petitions.

Over 50 people told us that they signed petitions thinking they were signing a form to receive more information, said Lanovaz. They were mighty surprised to find out they put their names to a petition to join AUPE.

Hopefully, the result of the vote will convince AUPE to change their tactics.

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