Question 1

Collective Bargaining Update #01

Collective Bargaining Caucus · Accepted Answer

14 September 2023

2023-2024 is a bargaining year, with collective bargaining anticipated to begin sometime around February 2024. And the MRFA’s Collective Bargaining Caucus (Caucus) has been making significant progress to prepare the Association for the coming round. With this in mind, the Caucus wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress that has been made in the Association’s preparations.

First and foremost, we want to emphasize that the Association’s primary goal is to ensure the best possible outcomes for you and to obtain a new ratified collective agreement by 30 June 2024. We have been diligently working behind the scenes to make this process as smooth and beneficial as possible for everyone involved. In the spirit of transparency and open communication, I'd like to share some key highlights of our preparations so far.

Collective Bargaining Caucus Membership

In preparation for this round of collective bargaining, the Association modified the structure of its bargaining committee to increase support for the individuals who are actively bargaining, to build an element of succession planning, and to increase members’ direct involvement in the bargaining process. Starting this year, the Caucus contains two interconnected groups. The first group is the Negotiating Team. These individuals will engage with representatives of the Board of Governors and be actively involved in negotiating a new collective agreement. The second group is the Collective Bargaining Caucus, to which all members of the Negotiating Team are a part of, but also contains additional members to provide support, ideas, and opinions on the directions of collective bargaining.

Members of the Collective Bargaining Caucus are

Anupam Das, Breda Eubank, Alexandria Farmer, Richard Hayman, Brenda Lang, Guy Obrecht, Beth Richardson, Karen Sheedy, Michelle Yeo, Derrick Antson.

Member of the Negotiating Team are

5 Persons - Guy Obrecht, Anupam Das, Breda Eubank, Brenda Lang.
2 Observers – Derrick Antson & a rotating seat.

Membership Involvement

The MRFA’s Negotiating Team is seeking a member to fill a recently vacated position. The individual in this position will be at the bargaining table in the upcoming round of bargaining and will work closely with the MRFA’s Collective Bargaining Caucus in championing members’ interests in negotiations. This is a one year position, open to all members, and, due to the extensive time commitment involved, comes with 96 SICH reassigned time for the 2023 - 2024 academic year. For more information, please refer to the Committee Charter, the Negotiations Policy, and reach out to Derrick Antson (LabourRelations@mrfa.net) for more information. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please send your statement of interest to FacultyRelations@mrfa.net by October 5.

The collective agreement also allows the Association to send two Observers (sometimes referred to as "Alternates") into the bargaining room. One of the Observer's seats will be filled by Labour Relations Officer, to support the Team & Caucus in their bargaining work. The second seat is planned to be used in a rotating fashion, allowing interested members and/or subject matter experts to enter the bargaining room, abide by confidentiality requirements, observe the processes, and support the Caucus and Team outside of the bargaining room.

If you are interested in learning more about rotating seat or putting your name forward to possibly fill this position, please contact LabourRelations@mrfa.net.

Timelines

Looking ahead, the schedule of activity is as follows:

Now to November 2023 - Continued collection of input from membership.
Beginning of October - Release of Bargaining Survey.
November 24, 2023 - Presentation of draft collective bargaining mandate.
November 2023-January 2024 - Consultation specific to bargaining mandate.
January 26, 2024 - Membership ratification of collective bargaining mandate.
February 2024 - Notice to Commence Collective Bargaining.
May 14, 2024 - Conclusion of Collective Bargaining, with ratification to follow shortly after.
June 30, 2024 - Expiry of Current Collective Agreement.

Feedback and Input

There are a variety of ways for you to provide the Caucus with your thoughts and opinions in advance of the presentation of the draft bargaining mandate, which will take place during the MRFA Regular Meeting (Friday, November 24, 2023).

Attending the now scheduled Caucus visits during your Departmental Meeting.
Additional consultation sessions have been scheduled to help facilitate connections.
1. General Consultation Session for Members who were Unable to Attend / Participate Previously #1 - September 18, 1:00-1:45 (In-Person)
2. Contract Employee Specific Consultation Meeting #1 - September 27, 2:00-2:45 (In-person).
3. Senior Lecturer Specific Consultation Meeting - September 29, 12:00-12:30 (Hybrid).
4. General Consultation Session for Members who were Unable to Attend / Participate Previously #2 - October 17, 1:00-1:45 (Online).
5. Contract Employee Specific Consultation Meeting #2 - October 23, 1:00-1:45 (Online).
Further feedback can be provided through the MRFA's webpage using this link.
Completion the Bargaining Survey (to be released on or around 6 October 2023 and be available until 20 October 2023).
The Caucus is always happy to schedule a 1-on-1 / 1-on-many conversation between yourself and members of the Caucus, if you desire. Please contact the MRFA staff to help facilitate the scheduling of this.
You can also provide feedback directly to the Caucus at negotiations@mrfa.net.

Thank you for your continued support,

The Collective Bargaining Caucus.

Question 2

Collective Bargaining Update #01

Collective Bargaining Caucus · Accepted Answer

14 September 2023

2023-2024 is a bargaining year, with collective bargaining anticipated to begin sometime around February 2024. And the MRFA’s Collective Bargaining Caucus (Caucus) has been making significant progress to prepare the Association for the coming round. With this in mind, the Caucus wanted to take a moment to update you on the progress that has been made in the Association’s preparations.

First and foremost, we want to emphasize that the Association’s primary goal is to ensure the best possible outcomes for you and to obtain a new ratified collective agreement by 30 June 2024. We have been diligently working behind the scenes to make this process as smooth and beneficial as possible for everyone involved. In the spirit of transparency and open communication, I'd like to share some key highlights of our preparations so far.

Collective Bargaining Caucus Membership

In preparation for this round of collective bargaining, the Association modified the structure of its bargaining committee to increase support for the individuals who are actively bargaining, to build an element of succession planning, and to increase members’ direct involvement in the bargaining process. Starting this year, the Caucus contains two interconnected groups. The first group is the Negotiating Team. These individuals will engage with representatives of the Board of Governors and be actively involved in negotiating a new collective agreement. The second group is the Collective Bargaining Caucus, to which all members of the Negotiating Team are a part of, but also contains additional members to provide support, ideas, and opinions on the directions of collective bargaining.

Members of the Collective Bargaining Caucus are

Anupam Das, Breda Eubank, Alexandria Farmer, Richard Hayman, Brenda Lang, Guy Obrecht, Beth Richardson, Karen Sheedy, Michelle Yeo, Derrick Antson.

Member of the Negotiating Team are

5 Persons - Guy Obrecht, Anupam Das, Breda Eubank, Brenda Lang.
2 Observers – Derrick Antson & a rotating seat.

Membership Involvement

The MRFA’s Negotiating Team is seeking a member to fill a recently vacated position. The individual in this position will be at the bargaining table in the upcoming round of bargaining and will work closely with the MRFA’s Collective Bargaining Caucus in championing members’ interests in negotiations. This is a one year position, open to all members, and, due to the extensive time commitment involved, comes with 96 SICH reassigned time for the 2023 - 2024 academic year. For more information, please refer to the Committee Charter, the Negotiations Policy, and reach out to Derrick Antson (LabourRelations@mrfa.net) for more information. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please send your statement of interest to FacultyRelations@mrfa.net by October 5.

The collective agreement also allows the Association to send two Observers (sometimes referred to as "Alternates") into the bargaining room. One of the Observer's seats will be filled by Labour Relations Officer, to support the Team & Caucus in their bargaining work. The second seat is planned to be used in a rotating fashion, allowing interested members and/or subject matter experts to enter the bargaining room, abide by confidentiality requirements, observe the processes, and support the Caucus and Team outside of the bargaining room.

If you are interested in learning more about rotating seat or putting your name forward to possibly fill this position, please contact LabourRelations@mrfa.net.

Timelines

Looking ahead, the schedule of activity is as follows:

Now to November 2023 - Continued collection of input from membership.
Beginning of October - Release of Bargaining Survey.
November 24, 2023 - Presentation of draft collective bargaining mandate.
November 2023-January 2024 - Consultation specific to bargaining mandate.
January 26, 2024 - Membership ratification of collective bargaining mandate.
February 2024 - Notice to Commence Collective Bargaining.
May 14, 2024 - Conclusion of Collective Bargaining, with ratification to follow shortly after.
June 30, 2024 - Expiry of Current Collective Agreement.

Feedback and Input

There are a variety of ways for you to provide the Caucus with your thoughts and opinions in advance of the presentation of the draft bargaining mandate, which will take place during the MRFA Regular Meeting (Friday, November 24, 2023).

Attending the now scheduled Caucus visits during your Departmental Meeting.
Additional consultation sessions have been scheduled to help facilitate connections.
1. General Consultation Session for Members who were Unable to Attend / Participate Previously #1 - September 18, 1:00-1:45 (In-Person)
2. Contract Employee Specific Consultation Meeting #1 - September 27, 2:00-2:45 (In-person).
3. Senior Lecturer Specific Consultation Meeting - September 29, 12:00-12:30 (Hybrid).
4. General Consultation Session for Members who were Unable to Attend / Participate Previously #2 - October 17, 1:00-1:45 (Online).
5. Contract Employee Specific Consultation Meeting #2 - October 23, 1:00-1:45 (Online).
Further feedback can be provided through the MRFA's webpage using this link.
Completion the Bargaining Survey (to be released on or around 6 October 2023 and be available until 20 October 2023).
The Caucus is always happy to schedule a 1-on-1 / 1-on-many conversation between yourself and members of the Caucus, if you desire. Please contact the MRFA staff to help facilitate the scheduling of this.
You can also provide feedback directly to the Caucus at negotiations@mrfa.net.

Thank you for your continued support,

The Collective Bargaining Caucus.

Mount Royal Faculty Association

Collective Bargaining Update #01

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