SAFA Collective Agreement Negotiations Update Number 4
The SAFA Executive and Negotiations Committee have made a commitment to SAFA members to keep you informed of our progress as we negotiate the renewal of our collective agreement. It’s my intention to deliver a “bargaining update” after every session of bargaining. In the update, I’ll try to paint, in broad strokes, the flavour of the meeting and the topics discussed. However, I won’t go into specific details or a “blow by blow” analysis (sorry for the pun).
The bargaining teams’ goal is to negotiate a renewed Collective Agreement and to sign a Memorandum of Agreement for ratification by you, the Membership of the Association. Our intention and desire is a mutually beneficial Collective Agreement will be reached in a timely manner at the bargaining table.
Welcome to our fourth update on negotiations for the renewal of the SAFA collective agreement expiring on June 30, 2017. On Thursday, May 11 and Friday, May 12 your negotiations committee met with SAIT’s negotiations committee. If there is a phrase that best describes the feelings of your Negotiations Committee following this most recent bargaining meeting, I think it would be:
“OK – let’s dance!”
SAITs’ proposal effectively opened most of the sections as the various topics they want to discuss have impact on much of the collective agreement. Our discussions, spread over a day and a half of meeting, were:
Health Benefits
SAIT has signaled their willingness to “modernize” language around “casual illness” and the requirement of a doctor’s note after three days absence as well as the current archaic language concerning Maternity and Paternity leave. SAFA expressed our membership’s concern with the benefits package staying current with the realities of what eyewear and dental procedures cost. Additionally, SAFA is keen to find ways to provide the “life stage flexibility” that was highlighted by membership in the SAFA surveys prior to bargaining.
Fee for Service
SAIT and SAFA have a long standing, on-going dispute regarding fee for service instruction and by extension, those instructors delivering this instruction, being included in the SAFA collective agreement. SAIT and SAFA are hopeful this dispute will be resolved at the bargaining table to the mutual satisfaction of both parties.
The performance review process
SAIT is moving to a performance review framework that is consistent across campus. This framework includes clearly defined and documented goals, on-going conversations between faculty and their Academic Chairs or Managers; and a clear process and standard for evaluating performance. SAIT has expressed an interest in further engaging the Association as they build this performance framework that can be applied consistently across campus.
Monetary proposal
SAIT has committed to presenting their monetary offer by June 7.
As always, please feel free to stop by the SAFA office N201 in the Burns Building or contact me directly – ext 4067 – or via e-mail [email protected] if you have any questions.
In solidarity
Al