May 10: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating teams meet regularly from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. At the May 7, 2024 meeting, the following issues were discussed:

Green sheet for Access to Information & Equity (Articles 2.2, 14.9, and 18.1)

• The parties signed green sheets to include language in the Agreement enshrining the existing practice for Employee data provided to the Association, as well as add new language around reporting to the Association on List A, Coordination and Advising and Professional Development funds.
  
  

Specific Funding and Collaborative Leadership (MRFA) (Articles 1 and 29)

• The Association tabled proposed language that would add a definition for a Designated Indigenous Employee to Article 1.
• The Association tabled proposed language that would: acknowledge the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission; create a Joint Committee for Indigenization & Decolonization; add language around targeted hiring of Indigenous Employees; and create an Indigenization Access Fund.
• The Board expressed support for the goal of Indigenization and Decolonization at Mount Royal and asked a number of questions to better understand the proposals and how the language would be operationalized.
• The Association indicated that they will revise their proposal in response to the Board’s feedback.

Tenure and Promotion Processes (Board) (Articles 9, 10 and 11)

• The Board provided a discussion document outlining possible approaches to streamline existing tenure, promotion and credit toward the probationary period processes. The proposal seeks to situate decisions in these processes at the most effective level as well as to reduce service burden. Potential solutions to the current challenges with timelines and obtaining sufficient high quality external reviews were also explored.
• The Association asked a number of questions in order to fully understand the proposal, and indicated they would consider and respond.

Sabbatical Eligibility for All Full-time Employees (MRFA) (Article 17.5)

• The Association proposed extending eligibility for sabbaticals to Senior Lecturers and Laboratory Instructors. Language was tabled to amend Article 17.5 to effect such changes, including an increase to the quota of available sabbaticals.
• The Board asked some questions of clarification, particularly around the costing of the proposal, and indicated they would respond.

Laboratory Instructors & Senior Lecturers (Board) (Article 6)

• The Board proposed the removal of the L1 Laboratory Instructor, as there are no incumbents in this role, and it has proven unnecessary. This would make the L2 Laboratory Instructor the default and obviate the need for “levels”.
• The Board proposed broadening some of the language in the Agreement to create additional opportunities (not requirements) for participation and service across the University.
• The Association indicated it also had some interests related to the Laboratory Instructor category, which it will bring forward at a later date.
• The Board will draft language on this proposal and share it with the Association.

Scholarship & Research (MRFA) (New Article)

• The Association proposed the inclusion of language that would effectively replicate existing research supports overseen by ORSCE.  They requested that the collective agreement guarantee 48 SICH annually of reassigned time for holders of external grants of $10,000 or more; create a separate pool of funds for internal research funding for all Employees (regardless of professional responsibilities); provide for a $10,000 startup grant for all newly hired TSS Employees; and provide for reassigned time for the HREB and ACC chairs as well as training for HREB members.
• The Board expressed concern about whether the Agreement was the appropriate place to speak to processes that exist entirely outside the Agreement.

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 13.

May 3: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating teams meet regularly from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. At the April 30, 2024 meeting, the following issues were discussed:

Access to Information & Equity (MRFA) (Articles 2.2, 14.9, 18.1)

• The parties are nearing agreement on proposed language to clarify existing data reporting requirements and to broaden reporting requirements to encompass current reporting practices. The Board will draft a green sheet on this language.

Resources for Employees (MRFA) (Article 22.6)

• The parties are nearing agreement on proposed language to broaden the existing language in Article 22.6 to apply to all Employees and to more clearly delineate access to resources. The Association will draft a green sheet on this language.

Protection from Outsourcing and Erosion of Duties (MRFA) (Article 2.1)

• Discussion continued on the Association’s interest to limit teaching by MRU employees excluded from the Agreement on the basis of holding management positions (e.g., Dean). The Board noted again that, as data provided to the Association showed, almost no teaching by individuals in this category is taking place, and this suggests there is no issue with the current language in the Agreement.
• The Association indicated that they preferred additional language in the Agreement over status quo, and they will take this away for further consideration.

Compensation for Mandatory Training(s) (MRFA) (Articles 14 & 18)

• The Association tabled language outlining a per-training payment for Contract Employees for completing mandatory training. The Board acknowledged that the University has already engaged in a practice of compensation for these trainings and was willing to continue the discussion, but wanted to ensure any system was logistically manageable and fair. The Board will respond to the Association’s proposal. 
• The Association also tabled language that would create a framework for “External Professional Activities” to be incorporated into the workload of full-time faculty members. The Board observed the potential for such language to result in an individual being paid twice for the same work, noting that previous attempts to address this issue, including a pilot program created through an MOU, created a prorated appointment which had almost no uptake.

Reduction in Teaching Workload for Full-time Faculty (MRFA) (Article 14)

• The Association reaffirmed their interest in a 48 SICH reduction to the instructional workload of all full-time faculty members. No language was tabled. The Board asked a number of questions in order to better understand the underlying assumptions, in order to understand the magnitude of the potential cost implications.
• The Board reiterated their view, as expressed in the Report of the Workload Taskforce, that workload issues are “non-generalizable” and are best addressed through existing mechanisms in the Agreement. The Board shared with the Association a discussion document that explained how the Agreement could be modified to more fully leverage the ranges rather than the norms for instructional workload, with the Department Average as a mechanism to ensure aggregate consistency. The Board believes this approach is a more effective way to encourage equity across faculty members.

• The Association tabled language which would require a 48 SICH reduction in instructional workload for all newly hired full-time and limited-term employees, normally taken in the first and fourth years.
• The Board noted that there was not a convincing case that such instructional workload reductions were a “generalizable” need, and suggested that the aforementioned flexibility in workload ranges would be a better solution.
• The Board agreed to consider the proposal and provide a response.

• The Association tabled language that would extend limits to the number of course registrations, which currently exist only for TS Employees (Article 14.4.2) and TSS Employees (Article 14.5.2) to Laboratory Instructors and Senior Lecturers (Article 6).
• The Board noted that, by and large, these limits are rarely reached, and that section size limits are not managed on the basis of employment category, and as such questioned the need for language when there is no apparent issue.
• The Board agreed to consider the proposal and provide a response.

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7.

April 27: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

While the Board and the MRFA negotiating teams normally meet from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, this week they met on Wednesday, April 24. The following issues were discussed:

CAQC: Report of the Audit Team, Confirmation of Audit Status (Article 28) (Board Interest)

• The Board shared the Report of the Audit Team and the letter from Campus Alberta Quality Council (CAQC) granting Mount Royal University’s QA Audit and Delegated New Program Approval Status (DNPAS), which provides the University increased autonomy over our quality assurance and curriculum processes. The Board highlighted that the only concern raised by CAQC was that the current Collective Agreement language limits the number of opportunities that students have to provide feedback about all of the courses that they take.

Court Proceedings and Political Participation (Article 17) (MRFA Interest)

• The parties signed green sheets on language for leave for Court Proceedings and Political Participation.

Vacation and Holidays (Article 15) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled language adding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to the list of holidays in the Agreement. The Board noted that this falls outside of their bargaining mandate and would have cross-institutional impacts.

MOU on Vice-Deans (Board Interest)

• The Board articulated its view that minimal changes were necessary to fulfill the requirements of the current MOU and include Vice-Deans in the Agreement. This interest intersects with previous discussions around potential changes to performance review for full-time employees.

Compensation for Mandatory Training (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA signalled a desire to include language in the Agreement that would compensate contract faculty for participating in mandatory training. The Board had a number of philosophical and logistical questions. The MRFA plans to draft language and return to the table.

Specific Funding (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA proposed that a fund for reassigned time for Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) faculty members and additional funding for Indigenization and decolonization projects be included in the Agreement. The Board agreed with the importance of supporting Indigenization and decolonization at Mount Royal, in alignment with our strategic goals, but questioned whether the Agreement was the most appropriate avenue for achieving this goal. The MRFA will draft language to bring to the table.

Preference to Internal Candidates for Hiring Processes (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA proposed that 10% of all new full-time faculty positions be posted internally first. The Board raised a number of questions about how this might be planned or measured, and the impacts of this type of proposal. The MRFA did not table specific language, but will bring language to a future meeting.

Reduction in Teaching Workload for Full-time Faculty (MRFA Interest)

• Noting various pressures, and referencing the Report of the Workload Taskforce, the Association proposed an across-the-board workload reduction of 48 SICH per year (or its equivalent) for all full-time faculty. The Board provided a rough estimate of the significant cost of this type of proposal and asked a number of questions, seeking to understand the details of the proposal. The Board suggested that there might be other effective ways to address the workload pressures raised by the Association. The MRFA did not table language, but will take the feedback from the Board into consideration in drafting language to be tabled at a future meeting.

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 30.

April 19: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating teams meet regularly from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. At the April 16, 2024 meeting, the following issues were discussed:

Protection from Outsourcing and Erosion of Duties (Article 2.1, 14.9 and 18.1) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled language in response to the proposal from the Board provided on April 9. The parties are nearing agreement on this issue and the Board will provide a response at the next meeting.

Access to Information and Equity (Article 2, Article 14.9 and Article 18.1) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA accepted the Board’s April 9th proposal for Article 18.1
• The MRFA presented a counter proposal for Article 2 that mirrors current practice for providing information to the MRFA. The parties are nearing agreement and it is anticipated a green sheet will be presented at the next meeting.
• The MRFA presented a minor adjustment to the Board’s proposal for Article 14.9. The Board provided context that the addition of 14.9.1.5 is not appropriate in this context because the processes to apply for reassigned time in 14.9.1.4 are not required for Article 14.9.1.5.

Information requests by the MRFA to support bargaining:

• The Board provided a response to the data requested by the MRFA for bargaining. The data is being provided in a good faith effort to meet the requests of the MRFA, while ensuring the Board remains in compliance with FOIP legislation and requirements respecting the privacy of employee personal information. The data provided is only for the purposes of bargaining and must be destroyed once bargaining is concluded.

Resources for Employees (Article 22) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA presented a response that largely accepts the language tabled by the Board on April 9th. The parties are near agreement on this issue.

Attendance at Court Proceedings (Article 17) (MRFA Interest)

• The parties have agreed on this language.

Political Participation Leave (Article 17) (MRFA Interest)

• The parties have agreed on this language.

Long Service Increments (Article 13.8) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA shared context and an overview of an approach to recognizing long service for contract faculty members. No language was provided. The Board expressed concerns about the appropriateness of the proposal and its feasibility from an administrative perspective.

Collaborative Leadership (Article 29) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA shared perspectives on Indigenization and decolonization efforts at the University. The conversation explored the broader context of the University and whether the collective agreement, which addresses terms and conditions of employment for a single group of employees, was the appropriate venue for this important, but much broader issue.

Performance Review of Employees with Academic Rank (Articles 12 and 14.8) (Board Interest)

• The Board tabled language reflecting prior discussions about changes to the current performance review process for tenured and permanent employees. Key changes proposed include:
  • Moving from annual reports to biennial reports.
  • Simplification of the mechanism for collecting reports and CVs.
  • Elimination of the requirement for regular scholarship plans after tenure (except where the faculty member is requesting a change to a TSS work pattern, or where it is part of a performance plan).
  • A proposed process for the review that would allow an opportunity for faculty members to respond to all feedback.

Evaluation of Teaching (Article 28) (Board Interest)

• The Board tabled language intended to ensure that no teaching evaluation relies primarily on student or peer evaluations.
• The proposed language also highlighted the need to ensure that students have a consistent opportunity to provide feedback through SPoTs. This is a critical requirement that was highlighted as part of receiving our current CAQC Audit Status. Audit Status is a significant achievement for the University that recognizes the strength of our quality assurance systems and reduces reporting and provincial oversight of program and curriculum approvals.

MOU Regarding the Creation of a Vice-Dean Position (Board Interest)

• The Board briefly reviewed the requirements of the MOU, highlighting that the process proposed in the MOU is largely completed. The changes to Article 12 proposed by the Board include language that resolves any questions about the role of Vice-Deans in performance review.

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 23.

April 12: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating teams meet regularly from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. At the Tuesday, April 9, 2024 meeting, discussion continued on the following issues:

Protection from Outsourcing and Erosion of Duties (Article 2.1, 14.9 and 18.1) (MRFA Interest)

• The Board tabled language creating a process and adding limitations to the amount of SICH that managerial employees excluded from the MRFA Collective Agreement can teach at Mount Royal.

Access to Information (Article 2..2.5) (MRFA Interest)

• The Board tabled language in response to the MRFA’s proposed language adding a contractual requirement for member information that is already being provided, and adding several additional fields. The Board position is intended to balance the legitimate information requirements of the MRFA with the legal obligation to protect the privacy of University employees, as well as the feasibility of providing accurate data. 

Resources for Employees (Article 22.6) (MRFA Interest)

• The Board tabled language clarifying resources provided to full-time and contract employees, in response to the MRFA’s initial proposal.

Vacation and Holidays (Article 15.6) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled language proposing additional vacation that was borrowed from the MRSA collective agreement. The Board expressed concern about the broader implications of the proposed changes. The proposal also included a request that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation be recognized as a University holiday. Following feedback from the Board, the MRFA will revise their proposed language. 

Attendance at Court Proceedings (Article 17) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled language with minor adjustments to the previously exchanged proposals. The parties are nearing agreement on this issue.

Political Participation (Article 15) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled minor adjustments to previously proposed language. The parties are nearing agreement on this issue.
  

Performance Review of Employees with Academic Rank (Article 12) (Board Interest)

• A productive discussion of the document provided by the Board on April 2 continued. The Board will prepare language to be tabled on April 23. 

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16.

April 5: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating teams meet regularly from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. At the April 2, 2024 meeting, the parties reached agreement on the definition of immediate family in the context of bereavement leave and began discussions regarding performance review for tenured and permanent faculty, as well as economic issues.

Green Sheet signed:
Definition of Immediate Family (Article 1.26 and 17.3.1) (MRFA Interest)

• The changes delete the definition in Article 1.26 and integrate it into Article 17.3.1. The definition aligns with the current federal standard, and recognizes diverse family structures. The new definition states that a family member is defined as “immediate family as well as other relatives and individuals considered to be like family, whether or not related by marriage, common-law partnership or any legal parent-child relationship.”

Ongoing discussions:
Performance Review of Employees with Academic Rank (Article 12) (Board Interest)

• The Board provided a discussion primer intended to increase the effectiveness of the performance review process. The Board’s interests in the discussion document included identifying an alternative to the current Faculty-180 performance review software, reducing the frequency of reviews, limiting the requirement of scholarship plans to specific circumstances, and addressing challenges with current timelines.

Economic Benefits (New) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA presented information regarding inflationary pressures on faculty. The information was intended to support a request for cost of living increases in addition to the creation of a contract salary grid that would be pro-rated based on a relationship with full-time workload, anchored to the Assistant Professor grid. No language or specific formulas were tabled. 

Senior Lecturers (MOU dated November 2021) (Both)

• The MRFA indicated that they were unwilling to move away from the proposal that Senior Lecturer positions must always be posted internally first. It is the Board’s position that internal-first posting provisions were agreed to during the transition period, while phasing out the Fixed-term employment category and phasing in the Senior Lecturer.  Both parties reaffirmed their respective positions.

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9.

March 29: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating teams meet regularly from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. In the month since both sides have exchanged their Statements of Interests (exchanged on Feb. 27, 2024) the teams have had various discussions. Below is a recap of the status of all interests discussed, as at March 26, 2024:

Green Sheet signed:

Contract Employee cancellation payment (Article 13) (MRFA Interest)

• The change provides 1 additional Day in the cancellation notice period (from 9 Days to 10 Days) and provides a cancellation payment (10% of the value of the course) to the contract faculty member if they do not accept another offered course. (Current language only requires the course to be offered.)
  
  

Ongoing discussions:

Definition of Immediate Family (Article 17) (MRFA Interest)

• The parties reached agreement on March 26 to expand the definition of immediate family for the purposes of bereavement leave. Article 17.3.1, will define a family member as “immediate family as well as other relatives and individuals considered to be like family, whether or not related by marriage, common-law partnership, or any legal parent-child relationship.” 

Court Proceedings (New) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled language requesting that the University pay for court leave for faculty members who are called for jury duty or when subpoenaed by a court. The Board is amenable to this provision and expanded the language to include Legal Proceedings which allows for other leaves in addition to jury duty or subpoenaed attendance.
  
  

Political Participation (New) (MRFA Interest)

• The MRFA tabled language permitting faculty members an unpaid political leave in order to participate in public office, including campaigning. The Board is generally supportive of faculty members performing this civic duty and has responded with language that aims to balance these potentially indefinite leaves with the need to ensure appropriate disciplinary expertise and staffing in Academic Units. 

Grievance Process (Article 20) (Board Interest)

• The Board tabled language to promote a more effective process for the early resolution of individual grievances. The Board provided language that would ensure basic information about the grievance was provided at Step 1. This included a brief statement about the situation giving rise to the grievance, the part of the collective agreement the grievor felt had been violated, and the requested resolution. This would allow the Dean to conduct a preliminary assessment so that the Step 1 grievance meeting could be more conducive to problem-solving. The MRFA rejected the proposal and did not provide alternative language. The proposal remains on the table.

Senior Lecturers (MOU dated November  2021) (Both)

• The Board remains committed to the language that was bargained in good faith in the current MOU. Recognizing there is a group of employees directly affected by the deadlines in the MOU, the Board tabled an extension to the transition period which ends Aug. 14, 2025. The MOU would now conclude when incumbents, as at March 31, 2024, no longer hold the Fixed-term role. The balance of the language of the existing MOU would remain unchanged and at the point in time when there are no more Fixed-term incumbents, Article 4.11 would be removed from the Collective Agreement. 

Language on the following articles/interests was tabled and discussed:

• Resources for Employees (Article 18) (MRFA Interest)
• Protection from Outsourcing and Erosion of Duties (Article 17) (MRFA Interest)
• Access to information & Equity (Article 8) (MRFA Interest)

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2.

March 22: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating committees met on Tuesday, March 19. Language on the following articles/interests was tabled and discussed:

• MRFA interest: Attendance at court proceedings (proposed addition to Article 17)
• MRFA interest: Political participation (proposed addition to Article 17)
• MRFA interest: Definition of Immediate Family (Articles 1 & 17)
• Board interest: Grievance procedure (Article 20)
• Mutual interest: MOU re: Senior Lecturers

The parties reached agreement on:

• Contract Employee cancellation payment (Article 13)

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 26.

March 16: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating committees met on Tuesday, March 12. The Board tabled language in response to the following MRFA interests:

• Contract Employee cancellation payment
• Definition of immediate family

The parties continued discussion on:

• MOU re: The Creation and Phasing-in of Senior Lecturers

The parties also discussed the following new interests:

• Protection from outsourcing and erosion of duties
• Resources for Employees
• Grievance procedure
• Performance review of Employees with Academic Rank

Proposed language was exchanged on some of these interests which will be brought back to the table for further discussion.

The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19.

March 8: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update

The Board and the MRFA negotiating committees met on Tuesday, March 5 and discussed the following interests:

• Formatting of and tracking changes to the Collective Agreement
• Attendance at court proceedings for faculty members
• Political participation for faculty members
• Definition of immediate family in the Collective Agreement (Article 1.26)
• Contract Employee course cancellation payments (Article 13.3.6)
• MOU re: the Creation and Phasing-in of Senior Lecturers

Proposed language was exchanged on some of these interests, which will be brought back to the table for further discussion. The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for March 12, 2024.

March 1: Mount Royal Faculty Association bargaining update
Board and MRFA exchange statements of interest

The Board and the MRFA negotiating committees met on Feb. 27 to exchange their statements of interest. In an interest-focused, problem solving approach to bargaining, the parties begin by identifying interests rather than exchanging predetermined positions that leave little room for exploration and discussion of potential solutions.   

The Board Negotiating Committee tabled the following interests:

• Current workload provisions (Articles 6 & 14) of the Collective Agreement in light of the Report of the Workload Taskforce.
• Ensuring that processes and workflows of the Collective Agreement function effectively and are clearly articulated, particularly with respect to:
  • Tenure and Promotion (Articles 9-11), 
  • Performance Review of Employees with Academic Rank (Article 12),
  • Grievance Procedure (Article 20), and 
  • Discipline (Article 25)
• Evaluating and clarifying current Collective Agreement provisions for 
  • Laboratory Instructors and Senior Lecturers (Article 6), and 
  • Fixed Term Appointments (Article 4 and MOU)
• Salary schedules (Article 13) and Collective Agreement term (Article 3) that are aligned with the mandate provided by the MRU Board of Governors Human Resources Committee
• Enhancing evaluation of teaching (Article 28) and affirming the importance of student feedback.
• Reviewing Memoranda of Understanding currently in the collective agreement for necessary amendments.

The Board Committee also tabled definitions (Article 1) and general housekeeping (e.g. editorial changes, formatting, etc.) to ensure these can be updated during bargaining.

The MRFA tabled a comprehensive package of 26 interests covering the following themes:

• Compensation and benefits
• Indigenization and decolonization
• Pathways
• Rights and privileges
• Scholarship and research
• Workload

The parties also agreed in principle on the language of the Essential Services Agreement.
The next bargaining meeting is scheduled for March 5, 2024.

• Evan Cortens, Dean, Faculty of Continuing Education
• Shelley Rathie, Interim Associate Vice-President, Faculty Relations
• Bonnie Thompson, Director, Human Resources, Employee and Labour Relations
• Kelly Williams-Whitt, Dean, Faculty of Business and Communication Studies
• Jonathan Withey, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology

The Board and MRFA negotiating committees have met to begin their preparations. These include establishing ground rules for how bargaining will take place, reviewing updates to an Essential Services Agreement and discussing information requests.

The committees will exchange their Statements of Interests on Feb. 27. These statements identify the parties’ key needs in this round of collective bargaining. Weekly negotiation meetings are scheduled every Tuesday from Feb. 27 through May 7, 2024.

The current collective agreement between the Board and the MRFA is for the period July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2024. Information on the bargaining process is available on this website. Updates will be provided regularly via these pages and in Our Community and the Provost’s Bulletin.

April 10: Mount Royal Staff Association bargaining update

The Mount Royal University Board of Governors Negotiating Committee and the Mount Royal Staff Association (MRSA) commenced collective bargaining on April 3 and 4, 2024. Both parties exchanged their interests to be discussed during upcoming negotiations. 

The Board of Governors Negotiating Committee tabled the following high-level interests: 

• Ensure various forms of employment are captured to support the needs of the University including research aspects of MRU’s strategic plan. 
• Implementation of updated job family classification and evaluation structure to simplify the existing process.
• Intent to ensure that the Collective Agreement term and total compensation changes are aligned with the mandate provided by the MRU Board of Governors Human Resources Committee.

The MRSA tabled a full package covering both interests and housekeeping items. The following interests are some of the ones discussed:

• Employee definitions 
• Time off for Association business 
• Potential impacts of technological changes on positions in the bargaining unit 
• Compensation, benefits, vacation time and University holidays 
• Hours of work including hybrid, flexible and modified work arrangements 
• Position classification and updated job family implementation 
• Education, Development and Training 
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Feb. 28: Mount Royal Staff Association bargaining update
Negotiations to begin between the Board and MRSA

The Mount Royal University Board of Governors (the Board) received a notice to commence collective bargaining from the Mount Royal Staff Association (MRSA) on Feb. 12, 2024 in alignment with Article 4.2. The Board Negotiating Committee bargains on behalf of the Board of Governors. The Board Committee with the MRSA comprises: 

• Michelle Adams, Human Resource Advisor; Board Committee’s observer
• Bjorn Billehaug, AD, Recreation - Cougars Athletics and Recreation 
• Alena Boczek, Director, Student Success & Learning Services
• Meagan Bowler, Dean, University Library
• Rebecca Fleming, Human Resources Business Partner - Labour Relations
• Shelley Jickling, Senior Consultant Labour and Employee Relations

The Board and MRSA negotiating committees have met to begin their preparations. A joint training session was facilitated by an independent third-party facilitator and additional meetings have been held to establish ground rules for how bargaining will take place. 

The committees are scheduled to begin exchanging Statements of Interests on April 3, 2024. These statements identify the parties’ key interests in this round of collective bargaining. Nine negotiations meetings have been scheduled to take place through to June 20, 2024.

The current collective agreement between the Board and the MRSA is for the period July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2024. Information on the bargaining process is available on this website. Updates will be provided regularly via these pages and in Our Community and the Provost’s Bulletin.