AUFA’s bargaining team received a request for changes to the collective agreement around maternity and parental leave benefits (Article 16). Assessing this request required the bargaining team to sort through how these benefits work.
The bargaining team thought it might be useful to share with the membership how maternity and parental leave benefits work. The illustrative diagrams at the bottom of this blog may be easier to understand than the text.
Read MoreIn December, the AUFA bargaining team provided a high-level overview of its bargaining preparation process. This blog provides an update on the status of preparations as well as the forecasts the next steps.
Read MoreIn December, AUFA members adopted CAUT’s Academic Freedom in Times of Conflict statement and the AUFA Statement on Academic Freedom in Times of War and Conflict as AUFA’s own.
Read MoreThe results of the November/December AUFA member survey suggest some clear priorities for AUFA members as we head into bargaining in mid-2024.
The full results have been shared with the appropriate AUFA committees for further analysis and to inform their priorities and plans. Additional future surveys will seek to further support the development of an opening proposal that is reflective of members’ priorities. This blog post offers a high-level overview of the most common themes that emerged from members’ responses.
Read MoreThe Labour Relations Code requires AUFA and AU to assess whether any of the work performed by AUFA members constitutes an essential service. If so, AUFA and AU must conclude an essential services agreement (ESA).
In December, AUFA’s executive appointed an ESA Negotiating Committee comprising Bob Barnetson, Susan Cake, Jason Foster, and Richard Roach. This blog post is the first step in consulting AUFA members about an ESA.
Read MoreLast week, AUFA, AUPE, and CUPE signed a letter to AU supporting fair wages for graduate students.
Presently, the hourly rate of Research Assistants at AU is $18.50 (master’s) and $20.50 (doctoral). The provincial average is $35.63.
RAs at AU have not received a pay increase since 2013. After four years of bargaining with the Athabasca University Graduate Students’ Association, AU continues to demand a wage freeze until at least 2027.
Read MoreAt the November 30, AUFA general meeting, the AUFA executive agreed to look into extending the age limit at which members can no longer make contributions to the Universities Academic Pension Plan (UAPP).
Read More