Bargaining Bulletin #2

Protocol signed and negotiation dates set

We have now signed the negotiations protocol agreement, and have set dates for exchanging proposals, starting at the end of January.

As we discussed at general meetings this fall, the one hurdle that had delayed signing was that the employer objected to a clause incorporating article 3.4.4 of our collective agreement into the protocol. That article requires the University to pay for faculty benefits for the first month of any job action (strike or lockout). This clause had been in the negotiations protocol agreements for as long as CFA bargainers recall, and article 3.4.4 has been in the collective agreement since the 1970s.

We were surprised that the University administration objected to including it in the protocol this round. However, after receiving advice that article 3.4.4 is enforceable in the event of job action, we agreed to remove it from the protocol.

Negotiation plans

Our proposals this round will address, among other subjects:

• loss of real income over time due to the rising cost of living;

• inequity of income for the growing number of non-regular faculty;

• updates to our benefits (both in services covered and in dollar limits for paramedical, which has not increased since 1995)

• mechanisms for paid scholarly activity including research;

• supporting diversity and decolonization; and

• protecting the collegial decision-making model

• We encourage you to attend the January general meeting on 17 January (via Zoom; watch for the e-mail invitation), in which we will give a further update.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to email a member of your Faculty Association bargaining committee.

In Solidarity, Michael Begg (Chief Bargainer), Douglas Alards-Tomalin, Tim Acton, CFA President Eduardo Azmitia (ex officio)