By Joel McNally
The course of true love never runs smooth and though the University of Calgary Faculty Association seeks a pay raise, they may wish they had settled for a kiss.
The collective agreement between the Board of Governors and TUCFA will expire at the end of June and must be renegotiated for the coming year. These negotiations are spelled out in the collective agreement and occur in the winter of each year. On Jan. 17, TUCFA held a press conference to discuss their concerns with the upcomming debate, marking the first time either side has publicized the process.
"In the last 10 years the Faculty Association and the Board of Governors have avoided bargaining in the press," said TUCFA President Dr. John Baker. "This year, the Faculty Association is very troubled about the opening position of the Board of Governors."
The BoG, in response to the notice to commence collective bargaining, stated no opening position on salary increases during this round of negotiations. The collective agreement requires that all items for negotiation be exchanged between the two sides before negotiation begins.
"The Board of Governors claims that one of its interests is having a top university in the city," Baker pointed out. "How many zero salary increases will it take?"
The BoG, however, dismissed the TUCFA concern.
"We didn’t necessarily put a number in," said Dr. Winter, Vice-President of Finance and Services. "But we are interested in discussing salary increases with them without question."
"I’m pleased to hear that," responded Dr. Baker. "But in their proposal, which according to the rules is where they would have placed salary increases if they were willing to discuss them, there was no mention."
According to the Faculty Association, salaries at the U of C would have to rise by 9.6 per cent to meet the reported national average for research and doctoral universities. Their proposal calls for a nine per cent salary increase and a significant increase in benefits in order to address the problem of faculty recruitment and retention.
"I believe that a nine per cent increase is a very modest proposal," Dr. Baker asserted. "Alberta has a very healthy economy."
The BoG is somewhat more pessimistic that the U of C can afford to meet the demands of the Faculty Association.
"Our finances are not looking very good right now and the University has to decide where to put its emphasis," explained Dr. Winter. "But faculty and staff salaries are important to the university."
The U of C is currently running a deficit of approximately $7 million and last year received its share of one-tenth of a $25 million recruitment and retention package from the government of Alberta.
Negotiations between the two parties begin in the first week of February and will continue for up to 60 days, at which point either party may request binding arbitration. There are no provisions for faculty to strike.