University of Alberta unions sign solidarity pledge

On February 16, 2022, the four unions representing support staff, faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Alberta signed a solidarity pledge committing to encourage their respective members to refuse to perform the work of striking or locked out workers in the event of a work stoppage on campus.

The solidarity pledge was signed as the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA) is set to begin formal mediation with the university on February 18.

University of Alberta Workers Solidarity Pledge

In event of a work stoppage, the unions representing support staff, faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows at the University of Alberta have signed a solidarity pledge:

The Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA), the Association of the Academic Staff of the University of Alberta (AASUA), the Graduate Students Association (GSA), and the Postdoctoral Faculty Association (PDFA) agree that in the event of a strike and/or lockout affecting one union, the other unions will encourage their members to refuse to perform work beyond their normally assigned duties, specifically work typically done by striking and/or locked out workers, as is their right whether under s.149(1)(f) of the Labour Relations Code or s.45(3)(e.1) of the Public Service Employee Relations Act.

What this means is that the four unions at the University of Alberta will ask their members to not take on the work of any striking workers, in hopes that the employer comes to a reasonable settlement.

In solidarity,

Jillian Pratt
President
Non-Academic Staff Association

Tim Mills
President
Association of Academic Staff University of Alberta

Anas Fassih, President & Jessica Grenke, Vice-President Labour
Graduate Students’ Association

Qutuba Karwi
President
Postdoctoral Fellows Association