University of Calgary update #16: We have a tentative agreement!

We have a tentative agreement!

Your negotiating team met the employer on June 8 to hear their decision on our monetary proposals.

The university agreed to all our requests related to benefits. By the end of the day, we agreed to these wage increases:

April 1, 2024: 3%April 1, 2025: 3%April 1, 2026: 3%April 1, 2027: 3%

Retroactive pay increases will be given 30 days after ratification of the agreement, including to employees who voluntarily left the university or whose jobs had been abolished. Current employees will receive their retroactive pay automatically. Former employees can apply to the University within 30 days of ratification to receive their retroactive pay. Additional details about how to request will be provided in a future update.

From April 1, 2027, all employees other than students will be paid a minimum of $22.86 per hour. All student employees will be paid a minimum of $19 per hour.

Improved benefits

We have agreed on improvements to benefits including:

Flex spending account to increase to $1,000 per year from $850.Payments for chiropractic, massage and physiotherapy to increase to $1,200 per year from $600, with an 80% cap per visit. The previous cap was $30.Total amount for dental coverage to increase to $2,000 per year from $1,500.New vision care benefit of $300 every two years for glasses, contact lenses, and intraocular lenses.Up to $100 every two years for eye exams, up from $40.Mental health coverage for registered psychologists, counsellors, and social workers to increase to $1200 per year from $800.

The flex spending account improvement would take effect July 1, 2026. All other benefits improvements would take effect 60 days after ratification.

The employer will make premium contributions on behalf of employees participating in the Group Benefit and Dental Plans as follows:

Group Benefit Plan, Extended Health Benefit:

Single Coverage will increase to a maximum of $116.23 from $75.Family Coverage will increase to a maximum of $288.59 from $186.

Dental Plan:

Single Coverage will increase to a maximum of $50.81 from $44.Family Coverage will increase to a maximum of $126.93 from $110.

These amounts were provided by Alberta Blue Cross as the total current cost of the updated benefits plan.

Letters of Understanding (LOUs)

We have two new LOUs with the employer.

In one, the employer has agreed to having a third-party consultant review our salary structure. AUPE members will participate in that review. Your negotiating ream’s objective is to simplify the salary grid and make it quicker for workers to rise to the top level.

The other LOU adds an optional new seniority-based method for scheduling vacation that will take effect for departments where the manager or the majority of employees choose to implement it.

Other improvement include:

The employer has confirmed in writing that they intend to follow their current practice for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation for the duration of the agreement. The current practice is that it is a non-working day where members will have a paid day off for reflection.

If any changes occur, they will provide information in writing in advance of that date.

There will be an additional two days allowed for bereavement leave, up to five days from three.

Sick-leave benefits and the safety footwear allowance will now be applied to Operating recurring part-time, temporary full-time, and temporary part-time employees. Operating casual employees will also be eligible for the safety footwear allowance.

A ratification town-hall meeting will be held at Science Theatres 140, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 24. Please do all you can to attend.

Please contact a member of your negotiating team if you have any questions.

AUPE NEGOTIATING TEAM – UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY

Barbara McCutcheon
[email protected]

Dave Latos
[email protected]

Paulette Harrison
[email protected]

Peter Gimby
[email protected]

Stephanie Hawes
[email protected]

AUPE RESOURCE STAFF

Darren Gangur Negotiator
[email protected]

Tags: