Updated March 31st, 2022
Strike FAQ for Members
AUFA has created this FAQ to provide answers for questions members might have about the possibility of a strike or lockout at Athabasca University. We will be updating this FAQ periodically. Should you have any questions that aren’t answered here, please reach out to any member of the AUFA Executive.
1. What is AUFA?
AUFA is the Athabasca University Faculty Association. We are a union created under the Post-Secondary Learning Act that represents Athabasca University’s 450 faculty and professional staff members. As a union, we are all committed to ensuring that AU offers accessibility, openness, and excellence in teaching and learning. AUFA is also committed to advocating for its members on all workplace issues.
For more information about AUFA you can look at our website. If you want to know more about unions, this is a good video.
Unions have been important for a long time and have been central in bringing about changes for equitable and fair working conditions and community building. Unions have played central roles in winning rights to things like minimum wage, pensions and parental leave, but also in implementing health and safety regulations, ensuring fair work hours and more. Here are some examples:
Independence and Trade Unions in the English-speaking Caribbean
2. How does the bargaining committee know what AUFA members want, and what is the process for deciding on accepting a proposal?
AUFA has been engaging with members throughout bargaining in various capacities – emails, surveys, spaces for commenting on the blog, membership calls, townhalls and meetings. In each of these circumstances, it is important for the formal AUFA leadership and the bargaining committee to have a good sense of what is important to all members. Collective bargaining means that we use the power of all the workers in the union to ensure a fair deal for everyone. You can read more about this on the timeline here and here is where you can see the opening offer that AUFA presented.
3. When would we go on strike and what would it look like?
We don’t know the exact answers to this question. It depends on how bargaining unfolds and if AUFA and AU can make satisfactory progress on a fair deal. AUFA is continuing to bargain in the hope of reaching an agreement. The earliest that a strike or lockout can begin is the week of April 4thth.
Bargaining continues, but the next major step is for AUFA to conduct a strike vote which will happen on April 4th. You can read more about it here and here.
A strong vote for a strike sends a clear message to AU’s bargaining team that members are not willing to accept the significant concessions the employer is seeking. A vote in favour of a strike does not mean a strike begins automatically. Often, employers will move off aggressive bargaining positions when faced with a clear message that union members are ready and willing to strike if necessary.
It is important to note that a strike vote does not mean that AUFA would automatically be on strike. The “yes” to a strike vote remains valid for four months, which allows more time for bargaining if both AUFA and AU feel that bargaining is a useful and productive process. The AUFA Executive has committed to polling members again if the time comes to call a strike. A possible exception to this is if immediate strike action is necessary to respond to a lockout by the employer. That is, as long as AU does not lock us out, AUFA members will have the opportunity to vote again before striking.
If the AUFA bargaining team and executive determine that positive progress at the bargaining table is not possible without the last resort of a strike, AUFA will seek an updated mandate from members and may serve strike notice. The notice must be served 72 hours in advance of the strike commencing. If AU chooses to lock us out, they will also have to provide 72 hours’ notice.
A strike at AU would be one of the first ever strikes at a “near virtual” workplace. Given this novelty and complexity, AUFA’s Job Action Committee has been preparing plans for a potential strike for several months and communicating with members via the blog and town hall meetings. There would be options for members to participate in different kinds of activities to qualify for strike pay, including in-person picketing, digital picketing, attending union meetings, contributing to a strike committee, calling members to check in on how they’re doing, and participating in union teach-ins or other events. More information on strike activities and strike pay is below.
4. How long could a strike last?
Strikes are designed to pressure the employer (AU in this case) to agree to a new collective agreement that the members can agree to (AUFA). When this happens, the strike will end.
The recent strike at Concordia University of Edmonton only lasted 10 days, including the weekend. The average length of strikes in Canada is about 3 weeks. The University of Lethbridge strike lasted 40 calendar days, you can read more about it here.
5. Will I have access to email, files, etc. during a strike?
This will depend on how the employer responds. There is a chance that you may be locked out of your AU accounts as well as your phone. You are strongly encouraged to back up important research or personal files.
Please provide your non-AU contact information (email and phone) to Brenda Skayman (bls@aufa.ca) if you haven’t already so that AUFA can contact you in the event of a strike.
6. Will my RAs still get paid?
As far as AUFA knows, yes.
7. What would we be able to do and what wouldn’t we be able to do?
During a strike, AUFA members will withdraw their service and teaching labour. This includes committee work, any work in courses or a supervisory capacity with students or course revision process. You may continue your research.
8. How does strike pay work and how do I get it?
AUFA members who strike and perform strike activities are eligible to receive strike pay of $88 per calendar day starting on the fourth day of the strike. AUFA will also continue members’ health benefits. During a strike, most AUFA members will be required to participate in 10 hours of strike activities per week. These activities can include:
Flying pickets: In-person strike activities can include picketing, leafletting, flyering, and door knocking. This strike activity will predominantly take place in the Athabasca, Edmonton, and Calgary areas.
Digital pickets: Picketing that can be performed regardless of one’s physical location will include social media work, letter and email writing, phone calls, artistic activities, and educational activities.
Strike service work: AUFA will require members to perform administrative tasks during a strike and this work will count as strike activity. For example, members will be needed to serve on the Strike Duty Exemption Committee and the Membership Emergency Fund Committee, in addition to other support roles.
Solidarity building work: AUFA volunteers will be calling each member regularly to check in on how they’re feeling and to ensure everyone is informed. AUFA members will also need to attend union meetings, and may choose to attend educational or outreach events, all of which will count as strike activity.
In order to issue these monies to members, AUFA needs to collect your direct deposit banking information. A secure survey has been created to collect this information from you. All information collected via the survey will be available only to Gail Leicht, as Treasurer, for the purpose of entering the information into our banking system in order to process payment directly to your bank accounts for the duration of the work stoppage. All information collected from you will be destroyed at the conclusion of this current bargaining round (2020-2022).
Please note that manual cheques will not be issued. Members who do not provide their banking information will not receive strike pay (if eligible).
Please provide your information as soon as possible and no later than March 15, 2022, to allow sufficient time to process the information. If you have any questions, you may contact Gail via email at treasurer@aufa.ca.
The survey may be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/C3VGQWB
AUFA has also developed a Strike Duty Exemption committee and an emergency fund for members who will need it in the case of a strike. Both of these committees are intended to support members in the case of a strike, which we know can cause hardship.
9. What happens to our benefits and pension during a work stoppage?
Benefits (health, dental, life etc) continue. Pension is suspended.
10. Can AU afford what AUFA is asking for?
Yes! AUFA wants AU to succeed so we would not propose something that AU would not be able to afford. In the past 10 years, AU has had a surplus nine times, and is on track to reach a surplus this year as well! AU has also indicated that they have available funds in their proposal to allocate $2.1 million for a one-time payout to each professional who has accrued leave while cutting any future research and study leaves for professionals. The payout that was offered to professionals and rejected by the AUFA membership is insultingly low – not even the equivalent to one research and study leave, let alone the leaves that would be possible throughout a professional’s career.
11. What is the solidarity pledge that other unions agreed to?
Other unions at AU (AUFA, AUPE Local 69 and CUPE Local 3911) have all signed a solidarity pledge addressing refusing to perform work beyond their normal duties, specifically work typically done by striking and/or locked out workers. This will further intensify the operational disruption AU will face in any strike. Members of these unions have likely received messaging from their unions about this pledge.
12. I have more questions!
If you have a question that you would like to see answered in this FAQ document, please add it here:
If you have a question that you would like answered personally, please add your question here and provide your email address:
You may also email aufahq@aufa.ca with questions.
13. How can I support AUFA?
Talk with your friends, colleagues, community, and family about what is happening in bargaining and to garner support!
Talk with other AUFA members about the issues – connection and community are so important in collective bargaining!
Volunteer with AUFA! Email engagement@aufa.ca to discuss ways to get involved.
Share information on social media about what’s happening.
Let AU know that you support AUFA’s position.