SAFA Bargaining Update – October 19, 2021
At the October 13th bargaining session, the SAFA negotiating team was frustrated that SAIT did not bring their full proposal to the table as promised. We first began negotiations with SAIT in May 2020, but we are still, 19 months later, without that information.
As we’ve discussed in previous communications, SAIT has not provided language for the following topics:
- No monetary proposal.
- No information on workload, overtime, and overload pay.
- SAIT has proposed a new structure for Con-Ed (CDARI) that depends heavily on adjunct instructors. We are still waiting to learn how this will impact our casual contract members.
SAFA is also waiting for complete data regarding various grievance topics that are included in negotiations, such as historical use of adjunct positions. SAFA’s negotiating team has asked for this information repeatedly, with SAIT setting and then ignoring multiple deadlines. When information is finally provided, it is incomplete or insufficient.
Withholding a full opening proposal for months is not consistent with bargaining in good faith. If SAIT continues to “bargain” in this way, SAFA may have no other choice but to file a bad-faith bargaining complaint with the Alberta Labour Relations Board.
This lack of proposal and meaningful negotiations is disrespectful to SAFA’s members who work hard for SAIT. The negotiating team encourages members to express their concerns about the missing proposal directly to SAIT’s Associate VP Employee Services, [email protected]. Let him know how you feel about SAIT’s lack of action. We hope that hearing directly from SAFA members will change SAIT’s position at the bargaining table. Please copy [email protected] on your correspondence. Responses may be posted by SAFA communications, credited to “SAFA member”.
SAFA remains hopeful that a mutually beneficial Collective Agreement will be able to be reached in a timely manner at the bargaining table. The next meeting date is set for Wednesday, Oct. 27th, 2021.