Union agrees to one more day of virtual bargaining before filing for mediation

The Graduate Labour Union Negotiating Team of the GSA met with the University of Calgary Team for its seventh bargaining session on 2-4 October.  During the last face-to-face meeting on October 4th the union team indicated that we would be filing for mediation given the lack of progress at the table, at the urging of the employer team, the union has agreed to a day of virtual bargaining to give the employer an opportunity to improve their latest offer.

The Graduate Labour Union Negotiating Team of the GSA met with the University of Calgary Team for its seventh bargaining session on 2-4 October.  During the last face-to-face meeting on October 4th the union team indicated that we would be filing for mediation given the lack of progress at the table, at the urging of the employer team, the union has agreed to a day of virtual bargaining to give the employer an opportunity to improve their latest offer.

 

It was the employer’s turn to provide the union with a package at the beginning of the bargaining session, and they did so.  At the end of our session in September, the union had expressed frustration with the employer’s comprehensive offer, which maintained on many of their concessionary demands while also failing to address many union demands.  What followed was a frank discussion during which the union tried to explain its positions on many outstanding issues, ending with a commitment from the employer to provide a counter based on that enhanced understanding.  The employer followed through and provided a counter with some important moves.

 

The union team acknowledged the Employer’s move and responded in kind, making a counter proposal of our own in which we conditionally withdrew some significant union demands and moderated our monetary ask in an effort to reach an agreement.  At that point, the union team remained hopeful that an agreement could be reached during the bargaining session.

 

The counter the union received from the university on the last day, however, while containing some improvements, was nowhere close where the union felt it needed to be if we were to reach an agreement.  The union did a thorough review of the Employer’s package with an eye to how they were addressing union demands as well as withdrawing their concessions.  In the end, after enumerating the number of demands that weren’t met and the number of concessions that remained, the team determined that we remained too far apart and that we were going to need the assistance of a neutral third party if we were going to reach an agreement. We then met with the employer team and told them of our intention to file for mediation.

 

Mediation is a service offered through the Alberta Ministry of Jobs, Economy, and Trade. When one party in a labour dispute files for mediation, the Director of Mediation Services appoints a provincial mediator who brings the parties together to assist them in reaching an agreement (provided certain conditions have been met). Mediation is also an important step towards a potential job action. Under Alberta law, if mediation fails, the union will be in a position to take a strike vote following a cooling off period.

 

After hearing of our intention to file for mediation, the University team took some time to caucus before proposing that we meet for one more day in a virtual bargaining session in the very near future to try to resolve our issues.  The union team considered their request, and ultimately agreed to do so.  In essence, the team sees this as a final opportunity for the university to withdraw their concessionary demands and reach an agreement that both parties can live with.  Failing that, we will proceed to filing for mediation and prepare to mobilize our members for a strike vote and job action, if necessary.

 

One important step in these preparations is already under way. After the last bargaining session, the union applied for an Essential Services Agreement Exemption. An Essential Services Agreement or Exemption is a legal precondition of the appointment of a mediator in Alberta.  In applying for an exemption, the union is asserting that should graduate student employees at the university withhold their labour through a strike there would be no significant threat to the public health and safety. It seems obvious that that would be the case for graduate student employees. The university was given until October 4th to respond to the union’s application but requested an extension, which the Labour Board granted.  At this point, we can only anticipate that they will contest the union’s application for an exemption, though on what grounds, we do not know.

 

In the coming days, expect more outreach from union representatives. We’ll be looking for you to show your support and to show the university that you want a fair collective agreement,  with no concessions that addresses your needs.  There will also be opportunities to volunteer and contribute to our efforts.

 

Stay tuned for future communications.  You are our strength at the table!

 

In solidarity,

Your GSA Bargaining Team

 

Allan Lyons

Kaylee MacLean

Hunter Yaworski, AVP Labour

John Eustace, PSAC Negotiator