Folio Home > Oct 21, 2011 > U Hall and NASA agree on new deal
U Hall and NASA agree on new deal
Michael Brown
On Oct. 6, it was announced that the University of Alberta’s Non-Academic Staff Association membership has voted overwhelmingly in favour of the 2011–2012 wage and benefits re-opener package agreed upon by university administration and NASA representatives.
As was posted on NASA’s web page, of the 58 per cent of NASA members who returned a ballot, 93 per cent voted in favour of the package. The new agreement is composed of a salary increase of 1.75 per cent retroactive to April 1, a 2.49 per cent increase to benefits funding that will maintain the current program (equivalent to .5 per cent of salary), and a one-time-only three additional support staff days off.
Phyllis Clark, vice-president (finance and administration), extended her thanks to both negotiating teams.
“Each side was co-operative and collegial and worked hard to bring this agreement to fruition,” said Clark. “Negotiations were conducted with mutual respect and this contributed toward moving quickly to a fair and equitable agreement.”
NASA president Russell Eccles echoed Clark’s sentiments, saying he applauds the work done by the association’s bargaining team to work in the best interests of NASA members throughout the negotiations.
“The chief spokesperson for the NASA Bargaining team said that the three years of bargaining fostered an excellent understanding between the parties,” said Eccles. “This round of bargaining was the result of co-operation and collaborative work on both sides.”
The days off will apply to regular, auxiliary and casual employees and, for the majority of NASA members, are scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 10; Friday, Dec. 23; and Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012.
In certain circumstances, employees may be required to work on one or more of these days. In those instances, the memorandum of settlement states that managers/trustholders will provide an employee with as much written notice as possible (ideally not less than 10 working days) of the requirement to work.
The memorandum also states that for the majority of employees, where an employee is required to work, an alternate day-in-lieu based on the employee’s regular daily hours of work will be scheduled by mutual agreement to be taken by March 31, 2012.
The NASA executive and Human Resource Services would also like to remind everyone that the one-year moratorium on the application of Winter Closure has expired as of March 31. Winter Closure provisions will apply this year as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement and the winter closure dates are Dec. 27–30.
For staff requiring more information on this memorandum of settlement, go to www.nasa.ualberta.ca or email your questions to nasa@ualberta.ca.
For administrators and trustholders requiring more information on this memorandum of settlement, go to www.hrs.ualberta.ca or contact your HR consultant.
Nov. 10 service levels
Thursday, Nov. 10, is a ratified paid day off for support staff; however, for AASUA staff it is a regularly scheduled day of work. While the university will be open on Nov. 10, it will be operating at reduced levels of service.
University administration urges everyone to consider how their faculty or unit plans to communicate the service levels available to students and clients.
This is a non-teaching day for most faculties; however, faculties with classes running should ensure they consider logistics related to building access and security.
Due to the teaching schedule in the Faculty of Extension, alternate days off will be determined by the dean.
Augustana will not be observing the support staff day off on Nov. 10 and will be open with full service. Support staff at Augustana will observe their day off on Oct. 28 and will operate at reduced levels of service on that day.
The central units listed below will offer the following service levels on Nov. 10;
Open with full services
Dean of Students (University Student Services)
Libraries
Protective Services
Mental Health Centre
Open with reduced services
Academic Information & Communication Technologies
Environmental Health & Safety
Human Resource Services
University Health Centre & the pharmacy
Research Services Office (RSO)
Closed
Financial Services
Help Desk – Academic Information & Communication Technologies
Office of the Registrar
Supply Management Services
Sexual Assault Centre
For additional information regarding service levels, please contact the appropriate faculty, department or service unit office.