(Supplied by University of Lethbridge)

By David Opinko

U of L board files for mediation in labour negotiations with faculty

Oct 29, 2021 | 4:18 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – After a year and a half of unsuccessful meetings, contract talks could enter a new phase for the University of Lethbridge.

On Tuesday, October 26, the Board of Governors for the U of L filed a request for informal mediation with the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) in their talks with the University of Lethbridge Faculty Association (ULFA).

Two days later, the ULFA says they were informed that the Board would not participate in any additional bargaining unless a mediator was present.

The contract for academic staff expired back on June 30, 2020.

According to the ULFA, they issued notice to start bargaining last April and met several times throughout 2020 and 2021.

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The Faculty Association has become concerned with the slow progress of negotiations, which has reportedly been exacerbated by turnover in the Board’s negotiating team.

ULFA Chief Negotiator Locke Spencer says their members have gone nearly 500 days without a contract.

“The Board has not moved from its initial position to roll back salaries by 4% retroactive to July 1, 2020, its position that Academic Freedom should be limited by the Board’s business efficiencies, nor its decision to deny ULFA access to critical member information to properly fulfill its legal obligation to defend the equity, diversity, and inclusion articles of our collective agreement.”

Other issues the ULFA wants to address in negotiations include vision benefits, improving workload and working conditions, improved accommodations for members with needs on protected grounds, maintaining “academic freedom,” introducing language recognizing Indigenous research, and improving collegial governance.

In a statement from the Board, however, they say talks have been positive.

“The Board negotiation team has bargained in good faith with ULFA since negotiations began in January of 2021 and the parties have met 15 times. As negotiations have progressed, certain articles have emerged as a high priority for both ULFA and the Board and certain positions continue to be far apart in several crucial areas. As a result, the parties have not been able to make significant progress in collective bargaining.”

The Board says informal mediation should prove to be a positive and constructive tool in ongoing negotiations.