January 30th: Update to Membership
Bargaining Updates
This past weekend, I attended a Negotiations Advisory Committee (NAC) meeting as part of Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association (ACIFA). All the ACIFA institutions were represented.
The Government of Alberta has put all the ACIFA institutions on the same bargaining cycle. That is, we’ll all be entering collective bargaining at once this coming Spring.
The majority, like SAFA, have already conducted member surveys and collated the results. Not surprisingly, every survey had wage increases as top priority. And again, like SAFA, the other institutions saw job protection and permanency, workload, and class size as current or developing issues to be addressed in bargaining.
There was a palpable feeling in the room during this meeting that no institution is going to stand alone through this round of bargaining. We will continually be sharing ideas, information, victories, and troubles, and providing one another with advice.
Notices to bargain can be delivered approximately March 1. From here, both parties can establish a schedule and subsequently begin to bargain. It’s for this reason that we hope the provincial government produces its mandate sooner than later. As a point of interest, SAFA requested that the parties begin bargaining outside of the prescribed period (begin earlier). SAIT denied this based on not having received the mandate letter, which is understandable. As such, we will send notice to bargain in March, as will the other institutions.
SAFA’s bargaining committee has met a few times to date. We have developed some initial proposals that focus on clearing up some ambiguous language, as well as improving wages and working conditions. I look forward to seeing SAFA members at the upcoming town halls and going over the survey results. As always, if you have any ideas for bargaining or any issues to discuss, feel free to reach out.
In Solidarity,
Craig Coolahan
Labour Relations Officer, SAFA
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SAFA Continues Partnership with ARTA for Retiree Benefits
Did you know? SAFA has partnered with the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA), so that previous SAFA members and surviving spouses can apply for extended health care, emergency travel, and dental care coverage. Learn more about the benefits plans at the ARTA website.