YUFA Executive Ignores Members’ Motion to Hold Monthly Consultation Meetings During Negotiations

Richard Wellen

At our spring membership meeting a near unanimous motion was passed directing the Executive to hold consultation meetings with the membership at least monthly during bargaining in order to keep members up to date. Apparently there is no intention to comply with that motion as we have already exceeded the one month threshold.

For those who are not in YUFA, or for those in YUFA who were expecting a somewhat visible bargaining process, please take a look at the message below from YUFA about negotiations (Bargaining Update # 2)

Apparently negotiations have been under way for more than a month. There is mention of agreement achieved on some items, but no indication at all about which items. We know our own bargaining demands, but we have not been told by our union whether the employer has any demands of its own, or what they might be. At our spring membership meeting a near unanimous motion was passed directing the Executive to hold consultation meetings with the membership at least monthly during bargaining in order to keep members up to date. Apparently there is no intention to comply with that motion as we have already exceeded the one month threshold.

It would not be surprising, nor out out of step with recent YUFA past practice, if the first membership consultation (and the first opportunity to learn any of the details of negotiations) will take place at a ratification meeting.
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Bargaining Update # 2

After 1 ½ years of careful review of the Collective Agreement with an eye to negotiating its renewal, the YUFA membership met on 2 June 2009 to ratify, with some amendments, the Primary Negotiating Positions document. Consistent with the YUFA Constitution, on 4 June 2009, the Executive appointed the Bargaining Team members and one day later, the Stewards’ Council ratified those appointments. The following Monday, 8 June, the Team met for the first time and named Brenda Spotton Visano, Chief Negotiator for the 2001 and 2003 rounds of bargaining, as Chief Negotiator. Four days later, on 12 June, the Team met with the Employer for the first time. Since then, the Team has met an average of 2 to 3 days per week and is working hard toward a renewal Collective Agreement.

Informed by the Membership Questionnaire, completed in Fall of 2008, and the principles outlined in the Primary Negotiating Positions, the Bargaining Team is committed to negotiating improvements in the following areas: Workload, Employment Conditions, Equity, Compensation, Retiree Provisions, and Benefits. In keeping with YUFA’s By-laws, the Chief Negotiator, on behalf of the Bargaining Team, reported to the YUFA Executive on 8 July and sought its direction regarding these priorities. The Team has and will continue to draw on expertise from YUFA and ARFL resources, as required.

Both the Employer and YUFA have exchanged initial proposals. The sides have been building momentum by finding areas of commonality. Consequently, we have come to agreement on some items and are now exploring more substantial issues, such as work load. The tone at the bargaining table is cordial, respectful, and constructive.

The Chief Negotiator for the Employer is John Brooks, a labour lawyer with Hicks Morley, who has served as the Employer’s Chief Negotiator for the last several rounds of negotiations. The other members of the Employer’s team are Barry Miller (Director, Employee Relations), Doug Peers (Dean / FGS), Alice Pitt (Dean / Education), and Rob Lawson (Associate Director, Academic Employee Relations).

YUFA looks forward to the timely negotiation of a fair and equitable agreement for its members.

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