Arbitration Update #4

This  past Tuesday evening, June 5, 2012, I sent out an email update on our Arbitration advising you that we had not received any information or news as to when we could expect a final decision but I could give you an update on what you could expect once we did receive the information.

Once the decision had been finalized the Arbitration Board would send the information to our AUPE Bargaining Team and to the SAIT Executive. This occurred this past Friday morning, June 8, 2012.

 I then indicated we would call a meeting as quickly as possible for the Bargaining Team to meet with the Local 039 Council members followed a few days later by a General Meeting for all members.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday myself (Rose Read, Local Chair); Kathy Woodward, Local Vice Chair; Terry Kurn Education Sector Representative; Kevin Olenick, Bargaining Team Member and Alternate Education Sector Rep and additional delegate Melody Waddington attended the 3 day Education Sector Conference in Canmore returning late yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

Imagine my surprise when a co-worker sent me a text message late Friday evening to let me know that a ruling had been made in our Arbitration and what monitory settlement had been reached. Imagine Kevin's surprise when I told him what I had just learned and he is on the Bargaining Team.

It was very upsetting to learn of this information this way and I want to apologize for the way our members found out about the settlement as it never crossed our mind that SAIT Senior Executive would pre-empt this information by publishing it before we had an opportunity to inform our members.

This is a very clear example of the disrespect that our employer shows towards us.

I have now had the opportunity to read Irene Lewis's and Michael Dyer's emails that were sent out at 4:03 and 4:13 Friday afternoon and find myself asking the following questions:

• Senior Executive stalled the bargaining process each and every step of the way, failing to work and communicate with AUPE so why did they feel it was so important that Irene send out an email within hours of receiving the ruling? They were willing to wait 2 years through the Arbitration process but they couldn't wait a day or 2 for us to tell our members first? Irene stated in her email that she wanted "all employees to know right away that this important stage has come to a close, as we have been eagerly awaiting this decision". Well, I say, thank you Irene for once again proving what we already know and that is that no forethought goes into thinking about how action you take affects the AUPE employees. Did it even cross your mind that the AUPE Executive would want to let their members know before you announced it to the entire SAIT community? Or was this intentional?
• As far as Irene including the "thank you's" at the bottom of the email, well sorry, but that ship sailed 2 years ago!!! SAIT has proven time and time again that they do NOT value or care for  their employees.
• Michael's email may at first appear informative but don't run out and start spending your money. In the section where he indicates the "Implementation Plan" he talks about the lump sum payment and the retro pay as being issued to all "active" employees. I have to question what he means but "active". If he means only staff that are presently "employed" then I believe this to be incorrect. If he means something else then this needs clarification.
• He indicates the one-time lump sum of $1000 but he doesn't take the time to remind you that you'll need to take about a 1/3 of that off for taxes so you'll only get around $700 in your pocket.

Tomorrow, Monday June 11, 2012 the Local Council will call a meeting to discuss the ruling. We should have something posted to the website (www.aupelocal39.com)  within 24 hours after that.

We will call a General meeting for later in the week. An email will go out through the SAIT email system as well as this system.

As always if you have any questions, please email us at info@aupelocal39.com.