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The province reached a tentative deal with the union representing about 23,000 Alberta government employees on Thursday, capping off talks that launched last year.

“When you’re in negotiations, a year and a half is a long time. The frustration level is there for sure,” said Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) vice-president Karen Weiers in an interview.

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The union won’t release details of the deal until members have had a chance to review it, she added.

Union members will receive a ratification package over the next few weeks and can vote via mail-in ballot. If ratified, the three-year agreement will expire on March 31, 2020.

“It’ll take a few weeks for sure,” Weiers said.

AUPE and the province launched bargaining talks in April 2017 on the heels of the last contract expiration. After more than a year, the government applied for mediation last June.

Finance Minister Joe Ceci issued a statement Thursday, but his ministry wouldn’t respond to questions from media.

“We respect the ratification process in which the AUPE will now engage with its members,” said the statement.

Under the NDP the provincial government has tried to cap salary increases for public-sector unions. Recently, the United Nurses of Alberta signed a two-year wage freeze with Alberta Health Services. The government also reached settlements that included wage freezes with the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, the Alberta Medical Association and the Alberta Teachers’ Association.

cclancy@postmedia.com