Sometimes it's the little things that aggravate you in
the bargaining process
Sometimes it's the little things that aggravate Essentially, this memo bars any working
you in the bargaining process... like group on campus from asking departmental
management arguing that departmental assistants for information, even a steward
assistants know more about what's happening simply asking for the email address of a new
in math and physics labs than the TSSU sessional instructor. It grew out of a request
members that work in them; or arguing that from a couple of departmental assistants to
the CUPE members who have access to clarify whether or not they had to respond to
sensitive student information don't know the TSSU requests for information. Bruce
university's privacy policy and haven't been Anderson, the Director of Human Resources,
trained in the new privacy legislation; or sent out a letter stating that any information
implying that these CUPE members don't requests from union members would have to
know that someone's home address is private come through the Labour-
although their workplace email or phone Management Committee, as departmental
number is not. The latter two annoyances staff did not have the authority to hand out
stem from management’s response to TSSU’s such information. For the union, this creates a
request for Human Resources to withdraw an poisoned environment in those departments
offensive and heavy handed memo from last where TA's /TM's and Sessionals have, until
“The union demands are much too reasonable. year. now, enjoyed healthy, cordial relations with co-
I need something I can reject out of hand.” workers and departmental assistants in
particular.
Back to the Bargaining Table
by your bargaining team
Negotiation Progress
As many of you are well aware, our Currently, we are bargaining around the
• Letter of notice to bargain: June 2, 2004 • Workload and Contact Information issues:
Collective Agreement expired on April issues of workload review and time use • Protocol Meeting: June 11, 2004 August 19, 2004
30th, 2004. TSSU and SFU guidelines, grievance language, • Proposal Exchange: June 18, 2004 • Evaluation and Training issues: August 26,
Administration began negotiating the new Sessional issues and access to • Language Instructors and renewing $70.00 2004
Collective Agreement in June. information. While our contract tuition credit: June 29, 2004 ---- Renewing • Workplac e and Facilities issues: September 2,
Immediately, the Administration refused committee keeps making constructive request was refused. TSSU members now have 2004
no the $70.00 tuition credit. • TSSU has been waiting for messages from the
to renew, even just for the duration of member-driven suggestions to the • Housekeeping and letters of Agreement: July 2, SFU Administration after presenting a series of
bargaining, the letter which ensures we Administration, they simply reject our 2004 issues, proposals and tentative languages in the
receive a tuition credit from the university requests. They refuse our attempts to • Childcare issues: July 6, 2004 previous negotiations.
once a semester. This seems to have clarify the current language and keep • Respect and Social Insurance Number issues: • Contact Information and TUG issues: October
July 9, 2004 28, 2004
been a sign of things to come. We consistency throughout the Collective • Grievance and Sessional issues: November 9,
• Grievance and Personal safety issues: July 13,
continued to bargain all summer and Agreement, leaving loopholes that could 2004 2004
signed off on most of the housekeeping potentially be used to exploit our • Summer break July 16, 2004 to August 16, 2004 • Next negotiation is scheduled on Thursday
issues we brought to the table. We also members. An example of this is November 18, 2004
unloaded a ton of proposals, very few of adamantly rejecting our proposal to add
which the administration has responded the words ‘or lab’ to the clause
to with counter proposals. We took a concerning workload reviews, their sole
hiatus at the beginning of September and rationale being that this makes the
returned to the table on October 28. The Collective Agreement an overly
bargaining team is already frustrated by complicated document. Two words, five
the lack of progress being made. letters, too complicated. Can you
understand our frustrations?