GSA

In November, after ten months of negotiations, the University of Calgary and the Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) reached an impasse in bargaining.

During bargaining, the university agreed to make significant changes to the collective agreement that will benefit graduate assistants. It also offered increases (of 2.75% and the potential for an additional 0.5%) that are consistent with agreements reached with University of Calgary faculty and support staff, as well as the Graduate Students’ Associations at the universities of Alberta and Lethbridge. Unfortunately, there were a number of items on which the parties were unable to agree.

There is an option for the university and the GSA to enter voluntary mediation to resolve all outstanding issues and come to an agreement. We proposed this to the GSA, but it has so far declined this option.

Both parties are now in the process of addressing the obligations under the Labour Relations Code related to essential services.

The University of Calgary remains committed to negotiating a fair and reasonable agreement with the GSA.