Updates from the bargaining table: working conditions at the CfA
Bargaining Update:
On your Negotiating Committee’s fourth day of bargaining, five Exam Invigilators working at the Center for Accessibility (CfA) joined us at the table. This day was set aside for discussing proposals related to working conditions at the Center for Accessibility.
Exam Invigilators at the CfA joined our union in 2022. These workers face chronic understaffing and a general lack of support from UBC. This term, the CfA changed their final exam invigilator scheduling practice without notice to exam invigilators, resulting in these understaffing problems only being further exacerbated. All of this makes the CfA less accessible for students who are seeking more accessible exam conditions.
During our most recent day of bargaining, we focused on two non-monetary proposals. First, we tabled a proposal for a more detailed, flexible and standardized process for CfA exam invigilators to submit their availability. Second, we put forward new language around hiring and training timelines. Such timelines would not only work to provide members with more job stability, but they would also ensure that invigilators are adequately trained prior to the busy final exam season. Our CfA proposals also include paid breaks, minimum staffing levels, and guaranteed leaves; however, we plan to discuss these at a later time along with our other monetary proposals.
In response to our non-monetary proposals, UBC mostly asked clarifying questions. With experienced workers at the CfA in attendance, we were able to answer these questions in a way that was attuned to the on-the-ground realities of the CfA.
We are hoping to receive responses from UBC on these non-monetary CfA proposals at our next bargaining day on December 10. This will be a busy day of bargaining as we expect counter-proposals from UBC on much of what was discussed on November 20th. In addition, we are also hoping to table more language related to some of our other procedural proposals as well as proposals related to equity, inclusion, and union representation.