The CMCFA bargaining team is happy to report that we had our first two bargaining sessions on 26 November and 12 December 2024. We are coordinating with the employer to choose dates that will allow us to get back to the bargaining table early in the New Year.

At the first session, the CMCFA presented our proposals based on the mandate approved at the CMCFA Annual General Meeting of 2022. We highlighted four key pillars in our proposals, with an emphasis on safeguarding the distinct nature of university work:

1. Compensation
2. Workload
3. Policies and Processes
4. Equity.

The CMCFA Bargaining Team listened carefully to the employer’s proposal presented at the second session. The employer tells us that their objectives for this round of negotiations are:

1. To preserve and enhance management authorities to continue to effectively and efficiently meet operational requirements;
2. To support pay administration simplification; and
3. To address departmental operating priorities.

The CMCFA’s single objective throughout all our negotiations is to improve the working conditions for our members as academics working in universities.

At the table for the CMCFA were Dr. Sylvain Leblanc [Chief Negotiator and RMC Faculty of Engineering], Dr. Huw Osborne [RMC Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities], Dr. Fiona Kelly [RMC Faculty of Science], Dr. Laurence Piché [RMCSJ], Dr. Philippe Beaulieu-Brossard [CFC] and Lynne Hooper [CMCFA Executive Assistant].

At the table for the Employer were Benoit Ducharme-Vachon [Treasury Board Chief Negotiator], Stéphanie Marchand [TB Analyst], Dr. Jill Scott [RMC Principal], Dr. Danic Parenteau [RMCSJ Director of Studies], Dr. James Groen [CDA Special Advisor, Director General Professional Development], Marie-Claude Houle [DND Director of Corporate Labour Relations] and Jennifer Carpenter [DND Senior Labour Relations Officer].

Please address your questions or comments to the CMCFA Chief Negotiator, Sylvain (Sly) Leblanc, at leblanc@cmcfa-apcmc.ca

In solidarity,

The CMCFA Bargaining Team