February 7, 2008
UGFA Bulletin - Negotiations Update
Why are we Voting next week?
The UGFA Executive and Negotiating Team need your support in order to bring a timely and successful conclusion to Negotiations for our first Collective Agreement with the University Administration. A YES vote on Wednesday February 13th would give authority to the Executive of UGFA, on the advice of the Negotiating Team, to call a strike if it becomes apparent that we cannot reach a satisfactory agreement this semester. Note that we are not currently in a legal strike position, and we are committed to continued hard work at the negotiating table. We need your support to keep pressure on the Administration and achieve a good collective agreement.
The Negotiating Team will be holding two information meetings to answer your questions tomorrow (Friday February 8th) at noon at the Ramada, and Monday (4:00 pm, Mac Hall 149).
What are the main issues?
Well, the biggest is ... Procrastination! The Administration Negotiating team continues to drag its collective feet. On some Articles, they respond excruciatingly slowly. On other Articles, they respond, but they do not move. It’s going to take even more pressure to get this job finished!
Specific Articles and issues of concern include:
- Workload
- Benefits - Cutbacks
- Intellectual Property
- Research Study Leave & R/D Semesters
- Research Policies & Procedures
Underlying all of these difficulties is a LACK OF RESPECT FOR OUR MEMBERS. For example, at the table, we have heard the Veterinarian Members referred to as “highly trained technicians”. Hearing such attitudes expressed, it is not surprising that the Administration refuses to accept job security provisions for Veterinarians in line with those provided to our other Members.
It’s not easy negotiating a Collective Agreement, because we are dealing with a wide range of issues all at once, and trying to get it right.
The Administration has refused to respond to our proposals on WORK OF THE BARGAINING UNIT. For example, we are asking for a guarantee that the total number of Members will not be reduced during the term of this Agreement. Student applications are up 14% for next fall. If the administration plans to cut Faculty positions, our workloads will increase dramatically!
We have received a “SALARY PACKAGE“. However, we were told at the table that the University is bargaining “total compensation“. This means that the salary proposals are contingent on benefit and pension cost reductions. The Administration is demanding benefit concessions but they have not yet put forward a defined proposal on benefits. Consequently, salary negotiations are stalled.
We have been unable to reach agreement on the DISCIPLINE and TENURE & PROMOTION Articles. As we told you last week, the Administration has actually been backtracking on the Discipline Article. On T&P, the Administration continues to demand major changes to the status quo, including mandatory external letters for all decisions, and a requirement for all Chairs to be Members of the College T&P Committees.
What is Going On at the Table?
Are Negotiations continuing?
YES, we continue to meet with the Administration Team. Most of the remaining articles are sitting with the Administration, and they trickle back very slowly indeed.
What about the Ministry of Labour Conciliator?
In December and January, the Conciliator was present for many of our negotiating sessions. On Tuesday February 5th, she left. Perhaps she felt that it was unproductive for her to continue, once the two parties indicated that they planned to engage a Mediator.
What will the Mediator do?
A Mediator can be more “persuasive” than a Conciliator. UGFA and the Administration have engaged the services of Mr. Bill Kaplan of Toronto as mediator. He has booked several days of mediation, in the second week of March.
Where would a STRIKE fit into all of this?
A strike is a work stoppage used to put pressure on an employer. The employer has a similar tool available, in the form of a lock-out. A strike/lock-out cannot occur until the Parties are in a legal position to do so.
What is a legal strike / lock-out position?
First, the Minister of Labour must issue a “no-board“ report. We expect this report soon.
A strike or lock-out could legally begin on the 17th day (calendar day) after this time. So, the issuance of the no-board report will set an effective end-date to these protracted negotiations.
What’s the purpose of the vote to authorize the UGFA Executive to call a strike?
UGFA Members cannot lawfully strike unless a strike authorization vote has been held by secret ballot – and passed! The criterion is 50% + 1 of the ballots cast.
A strong YES vote will give added power to the Negotiating Team, and it sends a clear message to the Administration. This is the kind of pressure that will ensure a good collective agreement!