AASUA declares impasse during formal mediation with university

The Association of Academic Staff at the University of Alberta (AASUA) announced that it has declared impasse during formal mediation with the university and will apply for a supervised strike vote. The 14-day cooling-off period before AASUA can call a strike vote begins today.

AASUA and the U of A have been in the bargaining process for a new collective agreement since January 17, 2024. Key bargaining priorities for AASUA include increased job security, benefits for precarious staff, and competitive compensation.

AASUA began formal mediation with the university on September 4 after informal mediation between the two parties failed in March.

After reaching “measurable progress,” according to a statement from AASUA President Gordon Swaters, the two parties met again on September 18.

The university’s behaviour on September 18 “demonstrated the complete lack of seriousness with which they approached the formal mediation process,” Swaters said in a statement released on September 19.

A key bargaining issue for AASUA is the adequate funding of its health and dental benefits plan. According to Swaters, the university “refuses to commit to maintaining [AASUA’s] health and dental benefits plan.”

AASUA will aim to have a strike vote “as soon as possible” following the two-week cooling-off period, according to Swater’s statement. During AASUA town hall meetings held in April, AASUA members “overwhelmingly indicated” that they were prepared to vote yes in a strike vote to support AASUA’s bargaining goals.

The university can lock out academic staff starting the week of October 6, or it can table a new offer for AASUA’s membership to vote on.

The Gateway reached out to U of A Media Relations for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

More to come.