Sandra Azocar Elected New President of Alberta Union

Sandra Azocar has been elected as the new president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) during the union’s annual convention held in Edmonton over the weekend. Azocar, who has served as the executive vice-president since 2021, won the election by defeating longtime president Guy Smith in a closely contested second ballot.

Azocar, a 59-year-old union activist originally from Chile, began her career with the Alberta government as a child protection worker in 1987. In her victory speech, she expressed her commitment to advocating for union members, stating, “I hope to hit the ground running to ensure our members get the recognition and respect for the work they do on behalf of Albertans every day.” Furthermore, she emphasized a focus on negotiations with Alberta Health Services (AHS) while supporting concurrent bargaining efforts across various sectors of the union.

Despite her election to the top position, Azocar confirmed that AUPE has no plans to rejoin national and provincial labour organizations such as the Canadian Labour Congress. The union has been suspended from this coalition since 2002 due to disputes regarding membership raids on CUPE Alberta health care locals, leading to a formal disaffiliation in 2006. Azocar reflected the sentiments of union members when she remarked, “Our members have been clear that although we understand the need to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our labour allies, joining the House of Labour is not the direction that we will be pursuing.”

Azocar’s extensive experience within AUPE includes serving as a vice-president from 2006 until 2012, during which time she became the executive director of Friends of Medicare. Known for her advocacy in protecting publicly funded healthcare, she has been a prominent figure in Alberta’s public health discussions. She returned to AUPE in 2021 and has held the vice-presidential role since, while also chairing two standing committees focused on Pay and Social Equity and Women’s issues.

She represents Local 6, which includes social services workers directly employed by the Alberta government. Azocar arrived in Canada with her family in 1975, among approximately 8,000 Chilean refugees seeking safety after the military coup in Chile.

The leadership transition occurs as AUPE prepares for a significant moment, with Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides scheduled to begin a strike vote in the coming week. Currently, AUPE is Alberta’s largest union, boasting approximately 95,000 members and ranking among the ten largest unions in Canada.

With the election of Azocar, many in the Alberta labour movement will be watching closely to see how her leadership impacts negotiations and the union’s direction in the near future.