Bargaining Newsletter - February 6, 2008

Bargaining Update
By Hugh Grant – Chief Negotiator

The negotiating team is back at the table, having met with the Board’s Team on four occasions since the New Year (plus a few sidebar meetings). We have managed to sign off on several less contentious Articles and have whittled down our differences on governance issues. There are important and substantive differences remaining on appointments (particularly with respect to limited-term appointments) and the evaluation/tenure/promotion process. We have also tabled an extensive revision on Intellectual Property (Article 17), and continue to press for the elimination of mandatory retirement.

Whether or not these matters are resolved by the end of the month, it is our intention to table proposals on the key monetary issues (workload and salaries) in the first week of February. We expect that at this stage the process will accelerate.

I assure you that we are cognizant of the time and share your impatience. It has not been a simple matter to negotiate the Governance aspects of a Collective Agreement that has been in place for five years. We do, however, expect to spend Reading Week working intensively at the bargaining table and, without promising any conclusion to our negotiations, we will be in a position at the end of Reading Week to give you a report.

Also in this issue:

• Policy Governance – The Carver Model – Michael Hohner & Kristine Hansen
• New Research – Paul Bramadat
• Faculty Association Lockouts – a perspective
• Ask UWFA – your questions answered
• Strike Watch – Karen Zoppa – DF Trustee

Bargaining Newsletter - February 6, 2008