Press Release

Current message from the Coaldale Chamber

For Immediate Release

October 14, 2025

Coaldale Chamber of Commerce Releases Survey Results on AUPE–Town of Coaldale Labour Dispute

COALDALE, AB – The Coaldale Chamber of Commerce has released the results of a recent business survey exploring local perspectives on the ongoing collective bargaining dispute between the Town of Coaldale and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

The survey, conducted in late September 2025, gathered input from local business owners and operators regarding their level of concern, potential impacts on the private sector, and views on the Town’s wage offers.

Results indicate a high level of concern among Coaldale’s business community. Over 60% of respondents said they were somewhat to extremely concerned about the ongoing negotiations, with 77% believing that above-market municipal wages could impact their business’s long-term sustainability.

A large majority — 93% of participants — believe that the Town’s salary offers are higher than comparable positions in the private sector, and three-quarters expressed concern that rising municipal salaries could result in higher business or property taxes.

When asked about the broader economic implications, over 75% said its either likely or very likely that increased municipal salaries will place upward pressure on private-sector wages, and one-third warned that higher taxes would cause a moderate to significant strain on their business operations.

Despite the challenges, the business community remains engaged and eager to contribute to constructive dialogue. More than 93% of respondents supported the Chamber using survey feedback to represent business concerns during municipal labour negotiations.

“The Chamber’s role is not to take sides but to ensure that the voice of local business is heard,” said Robert Woolf, President of the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce. “Our members recognize that fair compensation is important, but we also want to maintain a balance that keeps Coaldale competitive, sustainable, and attractive for both employers and employees.”

Woolf added that the Chamber’s goal is to promote collaboration and transparency.

“We encourage both the Town and AUPE to find solutions that protect vital public services without creating unintended burdens on small businesses or taxpayers,” he said.

The Chamber noted that 31 respondents participated in the survey, offering both quantitative feedback and written comments. Respondents represented a cross-section of Coaldale’s business community including retail, trades, professional services, and hospitality.

The Chamber will continue to monitor the situation and share feedback with municipal leaders as part of its ongoing commitment to support a strong, balanced local economy.

The full results of the survey, including comments, can be found on the Coaldale Chamber website at coaldalechamber.com.

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For More information contact:

Robert Woolf
President
rwoolf@cropinnovations.comCell: 403-382-1076

SURVEY RESULTS

The Town of Coaldale is currently in salary negotiations with AUPE, which may affect the private sector through wage pressure, recruitment challenges, and potential tax increases.

This short survey will help the Chamber understand these impacts and guide our advocacy on your behalf. All responses are confidential and reported in aggregate only. We appreciate your honest input.

Circulated to the Coaldale Chamber members.

The results and listed below are provided for the sake of transparency and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, opinions, or endorsements of the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce.

COMMENT SECTION

What advice would you, as a business owner, offer to Coaldale Town Council and/or administration regarding its approach to the current labor dispute with AUPE? (Please share your comments below as desired.)

The statements listed below are provided for the sake of transparency and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views, opinions, or endorsements of the Coaldale Chamber of Commerce.

Stay the course. They created this mess.

Hold strong

No compromise, recruit new employees.

Don’t give into AUPE’s demands!

Keep the lockout going as AUPE’s demands are unsustainable!

Make sure you stick to your guns. They are getting a much more than fair offer. DO NOT CAVE!

Aggressively hire replacements for the group that are striking at the new offered rate, it’s a take it or leave it situation. The town needs to stand their ground.

Get back to the table with the union and stop trying negotiate this contract in the public domain

Look at the amount of Managers or better yet middle men the town employs. Very high numbers compared to other towns of this size!

Keep the lock out going and tell the union staff to invest in a pair of longjohns, as they will need them.

Good for the council to draw a line and say enough is enough. They are offered above average wages for lack lustre performance.

I think all these strikes and walk outs are out of control, and maybe its time to put our foot down?? I don’t get annual inflation raises, in fact, I have not had a raise in over 8 years. Meaning my salary has stayed the same, no inflation, nothing. I don’t know all sides, and I’m not much for unions so my opinion may be biased. But I think of Canada Post, what a joke. I truly think they shot themselves in the foot I now have all my bills emailed, so that is 6 bills that are no longer mailed. Times by millions of people that did the same, its not rocket science, that’s millions of lost revenue on a ship that was already sinking. I don’t know all the fine details of the AUPE strike, but after you have had so many of these, affect so many things, it gets out of hand. Reminds me of my young son throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get a toy, well we will go on strike and we’ll get the toy because we backed them into it. Leaves a sour taste!

I think we need some major restructuring in our town office- less management positions so that the employees may be able to receive a wage increase without it majorly impacting taxes. Less pencil pushers, more fair wages for the people actually doing the work.

Hold a hard line with the offer you have given and don’t give in to the AUPE demands of no roll backs and higher wages without more productivity increase. Needs to have independent performance reviews before any increase in wages or benefits!

Stick to your guns. Enough is enough. They have received a more than fair offer. If they think they can do better in the private sector then let them go. You have already offered them to much in my opinion.

Its clear that AUPE employees are already paid significantly higher, receive lucrative pension, and enjoy benefits of sick leave, holidays etc, through the Town of Coaldale, that comparable positions in the private sector do not receive. I would reject their negotiations as “not in good faith” based on these factors.

I encourage Town Council and administration to take a balanced approach that considers both fair compensation for employees and the long-term sustainability of the broader community. In particular, I would urge transparency about how wage settlements will be funded, and to avoid agreements that place undue pressure on property and business taxes. I also recommend considering the impacts on the private sector’s ability to recruit and retain talent in Coaldale, especially small and mid-sized businesses that cannot match higher-than-market municipal salaries. A collaborative, sustainable solution will ensure the Town remains both an attractive employer and a competitive place to do business.

Hold the line. Do NOT offer more, not salary but NOT addtl overtime or other lines either! You are already to high. An LPN at the top of the scale in Alberta earns 36.13/hour That compare to a Client Services Supervisor that will receive 39.87 and after 4 years receive 47.37? An LPN (licensed practical nurse) that’s the nurse who starts your IV, administers drugs, may be admitting you at emergency and deals with life and death, compared to a Client Services Supervisor who does what? Answers the phone? Deals with residents coming in to pay their taxes or water bill?