Letter of understanding: Temporary Layoffs of Academic Staff Members
Please find the full six page original document here
Dear SAFA Colleagues:
I reported to you back in April of this year that SAIT had sent SAFA a draft Letter of Understanding (LoU) outlining possible temporary layoffs. Initially, it was SAFA’s hope that measures, such as a temporary layoff, would not have to implement. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Our SAIT community is experiencing the impact of the unforeseen and unprecedented global pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus, which has resulted in ongoing economic, amongst other, consequences to SAIT.
As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the associated economic consequences – such as reduced enrollment and uncertainty of tuition levels – SAIT has decided to defer the delivery of certain programs, reduce the cohort of students in some programs and asses the viability of other programs for the coming Fall and Winter semesters. This will result in SAIT temporarily laying off some permanent full and part time faculty in the affected programs.
For the past month, your SAFA negotiations team and I, in consultation with our legal counsel, have worked tirelessly to negotiate an agreement with SAIT to reduce, as much as possible, the impact of a temporary layoff and the attendant loss of income to our members. Last night, Aug 13, at 9 PM, we were able to come to an agreement with SAIT on a framework that established timelines and recall processes if permanent faculty were temporarily laid off.
Without this letter, SAFA members would have been subject to a forced layoff that had no established parameters. With the Letter of Understanding, there is structure for both sides to adhere to and some semblance of ‘process’ in this difficult time.
Please click here to read the Letter of Understanding.
During this time of uncertainty, I encourage Faculty to utilize the available free counselling services of the Employee Family Assistance Program (Lifeworks) – 1-844-671-3327, which is available 24/7.
In solidarity and service to members,