Dear fellow APSA members,
I must admit that I am confused by the approach SFU leadership is taking.
At one meeting, when we requested greater communication regarding workforce planning processes beyond the Dean level, the tone of the discussion was notably unpleasant and did not feel collegial. At the following meeting, however, leadership emphasized the importance of collaboration, working together, and "rowing in the same direction." We responded positively to that invitation to collaborate—recognizing, of course, that collaboration should not be confused with agreement.
However, between that meeting and our upcoming one, we were served with notice of the University's intent to bargain the Basic Agreement. The timing and manner of this communication came as a significant surprise. The notice was issued at 5:00 p.m. the evening before, and a joint message from the Vice-President, Academic, and the Vice-President, People, Equity and Inclusion was distributed shortly after 9:00 a.m. the next morning. This approach does not reflect collaboration in any meaningful sense. Moreover, there has been no indication of what changes the University is contemplating, beyond our own assumptions and speculation.
The University's message states that "SFU is committed to a collaborative and constructive labour relations approach that supports the long-term interests of APSA members and the broader university community." We did not request that the Basic Agreement be reopened, and it is difficult to see how unilaterally initiating this process will strengthen the relationship between the parties.
The language of the Basic Agreement itself is clear: "It shall be automatically renewed annually unless six months in advance of the expiry date either party has given the other written notice of its intention to renegotiate."
The Agreement did not need to be reopened, yet the University chose to do so.
Similarly, during monetary negotiations, the University presented a settlement package and applied pressure to APSA negotiators to accept the deal, then subsequently declared an impasse and moved the process to Final Offer Selection arbitration. Now, after both parties had filed their respective positions of record at arbitration, the University agreed to mediate with APSA — a process that is inherently more collegial and collaborative.
Given that SFU has recently launched an engagement survey, we want to be clear about what meaningful engagement looks like to us. We want to be heard—not only when a survey is distributed. We want transparent, ongoing communication and genuine opportunities for dialogue. We recognize that there is room for improvement on all sides, but achieving that requires real conversations, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to finding better ways forward together.
Wishing you all well as we push well into Summer!
Christopher