Administration posits six furlough days for U of A staff

In an effort to close the University’s 2010/11 $59-million funding gap, members of the Association of Academic Staff, University of Alberta agreed on November 16 to begin negotiations for a maximum of six furlough days — that is, six days off without pay.

Although discussions are ongoing, these days would likely not fall on class days, and won’t interrupt student instruction.

“The six days would all be around the Christmas Break,” explained Phyllis Clark, U of A Vice President (Finance and Administration).

“[They may include] December 24, the days between Christmas and New Year’s, and the two days in the new year. This has not been settled yet.”

It had originally been proposed that 12 furlough days be negotiated, with an estimated potential savings to the school of $20 million. Six was seen by the AASUA as a more reasonable contribution, with an estimated savings of $12 million if introduced in coordination with the Non-academic Staff Association.

“We felt that is was going to be almost impossible to convince our members to give up, say, 12 days — the 12 days you’ve heard bounced around in the media,” said Walton Dixon, AASUA President.

“Basically that’s over half a month’s salary, because a month would be about 21 working days” noted AASUA Vice President Don Heth.

These negotiations regarding unpaid holidays catch the AASUA halfway through a three-year agreement ratified by University administration, in which staff salaries and benefits increased four per cent in the 2008/09 year, were to increase 4.75 per cent this year and a further 4.75 per cent in 2010/11. When the budget gap became apparent, the administration approached the AASUA hoping to re-open the agreement.

“We felt that this set a dangerous precedent if every time the University comes to a financial crunch, they come to us and re-open [past agreements],” Dixon said. “We have a ratified agreement; we could, literally, if our members felt it was the right thing to do, walk away. But we — for a whole bunch of reasons — think that’s not morally the right thing to do [...] There’s a lot at stake for the University. We feel that we’re part of that community, and we can’t stand by the sidelines and watch things happen.”

The furlough days make an immediate impact, but the AASUA felt a renegotiation of the salary and benefits increase would lend itself to more long-term differences in pay. All parties involved expect the budget gap to be a short-term problem that will correct itself with the recovery of natural gas prices and a return to the previous level of contribution made by the provincial government.

One of the important issues for the AASUA regarding the upcoming negotiation of the furlough days is the desire to have a greater say in administrative and financial affairs.

“We want some assurances that if we’re willing to give up [paid holidays], that the University will be willing to let us be a little bit more involved in that process going forward,” Dixon said.

The AASUA referendum posed the following question to staff via email:

“Based on the motion approved by the AASUA Council, may the Association engage in discussions with the University Administration to offer no more than six furlough days (leave without pay) in the 2010/11 academic year in return for appropriate changes that address the funding environment?”

A total of 1,869 ballots were returned by the 4,344 staff members (43 per cent turnout), yielding 1,151 "yes" votes and 676 "no" votes. 42 were spoiled. Both Dixon and Heth were quick to point out the fact that some "no" votes may have indicated a desire to negotiate either more or less furlough days than the proposed six.