GLU and University Consider Ways to Accelerate Pace of Bargaining
After a two-month summer break, the GLU negotiating team met with the University of Calgary team for its fifth bargaining session in August. The union team was joined for the first time by the GSA AVP Labour/GLU Chair, Hunter Yaworski. Big thanks to former team member Michael Connolly, who has moved on to pursue a PhD at another university after completing his Masters at the U of C.
While the teams made a little progress on the outstanding issues during the two-day session, both teams expressed a desire to accelerate the pace of bargaining.
After a two-month summer break, the GLU negotiating team met with the University of Calgary team for its fifth bargaining session in August. The union team was joined for the first time by the GSA AVP Labour/GLU Chair, Hunter Yaworski. Big thanks to former team member Michael Connolly, who has moved on to pursue a PhD at another university after completing his Masters at the U of C.
While the teams made a little progress on the outstanding issues during the two-day session, both teams expressed a desire to accelerate the pace of bargaining.
In our last bargaining update, the union team identified a number of articles on which we were at impasse. We also highlighted a number of articles where we seemed to be approaching impasse. And finally, we reported that we had agreed to reserve discussion on several articles because the Employer felt they had financial implications and should be reserved for monetary negotiations.
Both sides acknowledge that there are a significant number of issues to resolve, particularly given the fact that we have been in bargaining since January. And both sides expressed a desire to accelerate the pace of bargaining. The question is how do to so, given the number of articles at which we seem to be at impasse, and given the number of articles that seem to have monetary implications.
After some deliberation, the Union team has decided the best way to accelerate the pace of bargaining at this juncture is to put everything on the table. We indicated to the Employer that we would be tabling our monetary proposals during the next bargaining session in September.
While we hope to see more progress once everything is on the table, the union is preparing for the possibility that we might have to put more pressure on the Employer to get you a fair deal. Our ability to exert that pressure, should we need to do so, will depend on you, the members. With the new term fast approaching, the Union will be reaching out to members – both new and existing – asking you to get involved and to show their support for the bargaining team. The best way to get a fair deal that addresses member needs is to show that support. So please stay tuned for more union communications, and get involved!
As always, we will provide an update our next session which will be next week.
You are our strength at the table!
In solidarity,
Your GSA Bargaining Team
Hunter Yaworski, AVP Labour/GLU Chair
Allan Lyons
Kaylee MacLean
John Eustace, PSAC Negotiator