The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees moved a small step closer yesterday to its never-quite-openly stated goal of reaching 100,000 members thanks to a favourable Appeal Court ruling that will require the Alberta Labour Relations Board to consider whether close to 6,800 civil servants were improperly excluded from union membership by the province.

The 6,774 direct employees of the Alberta government are mid-level managers, human resources and labour relations officers, budget officers, systems analysts, financial auditors, office staff of the Lieutenant Governor, the cabinet, the Legislative Assembly, deputy ministers and the like.