Bargaining Update - U of A and AASUA file essential services agreement
18 February 2025
Key points:
- The university and AASUA have entered into an essential services agreement (ESA).
- The ESA specifies the work that would continue in the event of a legal work stoppage (strike or lockout). All other work that is not specified in the ESA would stop during a legal work stoppage.
- A work stoppage is not imminent at this time. The bargaining teams continue to advance items at the negotiating table.
- More information, including answers to questions about the ESA, is available on the U of A Collective Bargaining pages.
Essential services agreements reached with AASUA
The university and AASUA have completed an essential services agreement (ESA) and have submitted it to the Alberta Labour Relations Board for acceptance. ESAs are not mandatory in the collective bargaining process, however in Alberta an ESA is required before any legal work stoppage (strikes and lockouts) by public sector workers and their employers. The definition of essential services under the Alberta Labour Relations Code is very narrow, and includes those that if interrupted would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the public, or that are necessary to maintain and administer the rule of law and public security.
Research during a work stoppage
While the primary principle in a work stoppage scenario is that all work performed by members of the union stops, the university and AASUA have acknowledged a joint interest in protecting some vulnerable research during a work stoppage. The parties have agreed to criteria and a process for the development of a Research At Risk of Irreparable Damage list intended to be included as part of an ESA.
Submissions were thoughtfully considered by the multidisciplinary panel from the university against the criteria and definitions agreed to with AASUA. Decisions were communicated to applicants on Feb. 3. As agreed with AASUA, both parties had to accept submissions, submissions had to meet the outlined criteria in order for the research to be included, and the decisions were final.
Research considered for inclusion in the list were a part of at least one of three categories:
- Continued longitudinal research studies involving animals (i.e., studies where animals have already been enrolled and under treatment).
- Clinical research where patients are actively undergoing treatment or post-treatment monitoring.
- Researchers whose labs provide testing or drug manufacturing support for human clinical trials.
Progress continues to be made at the negotiating table
An ESA is one step that is required before any dispute resolution methods, such as formal mediation, can occur. There is no threat of dispute or impasse at this time. Negotiations at both tables are progressing and the university continues to bargain with the intent of reaching renewed collective agreements that avoid the disruptive impacts of a work stoppage, as has always been possible before.
More information on ESAs and collective bargaining at the university is available on thiswebsite. Updates are made weekly on Tuesdays on these pages and in the Employee Digest email when the university is in active negotiations.