AUFA and AU to resume bargaining

On December 2, 2024, the AUFA Bargaining Team, represented by its Executive Director, met with the AU Bargaining Team at the Alberta Labour Relations Board. During this meeting, both parties agreed to resume negotiations in January 2025. Two consecutive meetings have been scheduled for January 29 and 30.

Following our consultation with AUFA members in July 2024, the AUFA Bargaining Team has been insisting that receiving a comprehensive offer, one that includes monetary items, is essential for our members to engage in meaningful negotiations. However, the AU Bargaining Team has been refusing to provide such an offer and suggested that monetary items will be addressed once the “low-hanging fruits” of both proposals are discussed.

Although we disagree with their approach, we have agreed to resume negotiations by discussing some articles that seem not to be too contentious and Letters of Understanding (LOUs). We have agreed on this in good faith and with the genuine intention of moving forward. However, this does not imply acceptance of the AU Bargaining Team’s refusal to disclose their full proposal. We continue arguing that this is a bargaining practice fundamentally rooted in bad faith.

Although the AU Bargaining Team has not committed to presenting a monetary proposal after discussing these articles and LOUs, we genuinely trust that, as representatives of a public institution dedicated to “improve the lives of learners and communities” and “make the world better and more equitable,” they will seriously consider the demands of their workers, academics and professionals, whose work is vital to achieve those noble goals.

As always, we will keep you in the loop with the state of negotiations and ask for your feedback and support as needed.

In solidarity,

The AUFA Bargaining Team