Monetary proposals to come at next meeting on Feb. 17
LOCAL: 071
CHAPTER: 011
NON-ACADEMIC STAFF
Your negotiating team met with the employer on Jan. 18 and was able to make progress towards bargaining a new collective bargaining agreement.
The employer withdrew many of its radical proposals, including rollbacks to overtime, the elimination of weekend premiums, changes to hours of work, and limiting members’ ability to participate in Union seminars, courses and conferences.
We are pleased the employer reversed their position and withdrew these items as we could never agree to such archaic proposals that would have made Bow Valley College the only post-secondary institution in Alberta to have this language in a collective agreement.
The tone of the meeting was positive and was productive. Both parties have agreed on nearly all non-monetary items and we think we are close on the last few outstanding items. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 17, when both parties will table their monetary proposals.
Bow Valley College reported a $4 million surplus for 2020, a $13.9 million surplus for 2021, and has an accumulated surplus of $175.9 million as per the 2020/2021 Annual Report (Page 60). We are calling on the employer to table a monetary proposal that is fair and just to the members.
We have seen the recent pattern at other post-secondary institutions of monetary proposals similar to, but not as good as, the recent agreement ratified with AUPE members directly employed by the Government of Alberta. We have been clear with the employer that our members will not ratify that kind of proposal.
Your negotiating team would like to thank all the members for their patience and support through this process and hope to be able to present a deal for your consideration soon. Please do not hesitate to contact your negotiating team if you have questions.
Your BVC Negotiating Committee
Jenn Carkner: jenn.carkner@gmail.com
Shahnaz Raja Abid:shahnazrajaabid@gmail.com
Peter Steward:psteward85@outlook.com
AUPE staff resources
Christian Tetreault, negotiator: c.tetreault@aupe.org
Scott Drake, organizer: s.drake@aupe.org
Terry Inigo-Jones, communications: t.inigo-jones@aupe.org