First Collective Agreement Ratified

Members of the Faculty Association have voted to ratify SFUFA’s first Collective Agreement with the University. 95% of all votes cast were in favour of ratification (605 for, 28 against).

The Association has been informed that the Board of Governors ratified the Agreement at its meeting yesterday, and we have shared the results of our ballot with the University. The Collective Agreement is now effective retroactive to July 1, 2014. General rights that cannot be reasonably made retroactive are effective as of ratification. Other changes may be subject to reasonable delays as we work to implement the Agreement; some matters, such as committee compositions and in-process procedures, cannot be easily adjusted mid-process, and will require further discussion to make transitions as smooth as possible. Salary adjustments are retroactive to the effective dates stipulated in the Agreement, and will be processed as soon as possible by the University.

The SFUFA Executive and Bargaining Committee believe this is a strong Agreement, advancing the rights of faculty members, achieving significant gains in important areas, and making long-overdue adjustments to our salary system. We are particularly pleased to have achieved this Agreement through, and maintaining, a constructive and collegial relationship with the University.

Thank you all for your questions, your comments and suggestions for future bargaining, and your support throughout this process. As with any new Agreement, transitional issues will most certainly arise, and small complications are to be expected. We ask for your patience as we all transition to the new Agreement, and encourage you to contact us for any assistance or clarification you might require.