Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

Two days have concluded, both of which had bargaining scheduled. I'm sure a laywer got paid a lot to come up with the precise wording 😏

From: Ronda Arab <ronda_arab@sfu.ca>
Sent: October 13, 2023 2:02:08 PM
To: Julian Christians; Michael Sjoerdsma; Behraad Bahreyni
Cc: Derek Bingham; Wendy Loken Thornton; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

Let me get this straight.

SFU has written that they completed "two days of scheduled bargaining on Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12." TSSU says that on October 12, SFU cancelled the session saying they weren't prepared.

Did they show up or not? Did they cancel? Because if they did cancel or showed up and then immediately left because they weren't prepared, this is a blatant lie.

Dr. Ronda Arab

Associate Professor of English

Simon Fraser University

pronouns: she/her

From: Julian Christians <julian_christians@sfu.ca>
Sent: 13 October 2023 13:45:39
To: Michael Sjoerdsma; Behraad Bahreyni
Cc: Derek Bingham; Wendy Loken Thornton; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

Note the update from yesterday:

https://www.sfu.ca/dashboard/faculty-staff/bargaining/updates/2023/October/tssu-bargaining-update-oct-12.html

"After concluding two days of scheduled bargaining on Wednesday, October 11 and Thursday, October 12, the university is hopeful that a fair agreement with TSSU can be reached through the mediation process."

I guess it is technically true that they concluded a day of scheduled bargaining if they showed up and said they weren't prepared, but...

________________________________________
From: Michael Sjoerdsma <mhs@sfu.ca>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 5:41 PM
To: Behraad Bahreyni
Cc: Derek Bingham; Wendy Loken Thornton; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

Hi Behraad,

Having been past President of SFUFA, the current SFUFA VP, and a member of the current bargaining committee, all I will say here is that your experience with SFU has been much different than mine.

Mike

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 12, 2023, at 5:37 PM, Behraad Bahreyni <bba19@sfu.ca> wrote:

TSSU constantly twists stories to fit their narrative and often you cannot find a definitive source for them.

Having dealt with both sides of the table in the past, I find SFU administration to be more responsible in their responses and actions during the negotiations.

Cheers

________________________
Behraad Bahreyni, PhD, PEng
Professor, School of Mechatronic Systems Engineering
Associate Member, School of Engineering Science
SFU Simon Fraser University
MSE 4176, 250-13450 102nd Ave
Surrey, BC, CANADA V3T 0A3
Tel: +1 (778) 782-8694
Web: http://sense.fas.sfu.ca/

From: Derek Bingham <dbingham@sfu.ca>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 5:33 PM
To: Wendy Loken Thornton <wthornto@sfu.ca>; Michael Sjoerdsma <mhs@sfu.ca>; academic-discussion@sfu.ca
Subject: Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

The point, of course, is that the SFU folks may have indeed been acting sensibly. What if the proposal was 1000 pages long? I have no idea and neither do you.

As the sources of information, when it effects me, I usually email SFUFA, the Dean's office and Faculty relations and ask for citations/sources. All have been responsive and also had to clarify the information they had provided to us all.

Derek Bingham

Professor

Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science

Simon Fraser University

________________________________
From: Wendy Loken Thornton
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 5:25:05 PM
To: Derek Bingham; Michael Sjoerdsma; academic-discussion@sfu.ca<mailto:academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Subject: Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

You may very well be correct, Derek, but then what source of information would you suggest? According to SFU, TSSU has been reluctant to engage. According to TSSU, SFU did not show up to negotiate today, which seems objectively verifiable. I perceive SFUFA as providing info when they can, primarily around what to do around picket lines, classes etc.

If someone needs to work a few evenings and weekends to resolve this, I'm all for it.

***

Wendy Loken Thornton, Ph.D. R.Psych
Professor, Department of Psychology

Director, Cognitive Aging Lab
Simon Fraser University

***

The SFU Burnaby campus is located on the unceded traditional territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, and Kwikwetlem Nations.
Note: My working hours and yours may differ. Please don't feel obligated to reply outside of your normal hours.

________________________________
From: Derek Bingham <dbingham@sfu.ca<mailto:dbingham@sfu.ca>>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 5:16 PM
To: Michael Sjoerdsma; academic-discussion@sfu.ca<mailto:academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Subject: Re: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

Hi,

My understanding is that the TSSU made proposals at the end of day yesterday, and the SFU side, whilst preparing for mediation on Friday, did not come prepared to respond this morning. One might claim that the SFU side ought to have spent the night dealing with the proposal, while one might instead claim that seriously responding to proposals might take more time than the evening and sleep allows. The situation may be more complicated than simply "SFU did not come to the bargaining table today prepared to negotiate". I am not a negotiator, so I do not know for sure.

I have found that the University, TSSU and SFUFA have been spotty as sources of information. So, I do find it difficult to draw any conclusions based on any one of these sources.

Derek

Derek Bingham

Professor

Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science

Simon Fraser University

________________________________
From: Michael Sjoerdsma <mhs@sfu.ca<mailto:mhs@sfu.ca>>
Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2023 4:56:34 PM
To: academic-discussion@sfu.ca<mailto:academic-discussion@sfu.ca>
Subject: TSSU Bargaining: SFU fails to prepare

Hi everyone,

In an effort to stay updated on the TSSU negotiations, I’ve found that TSSU usually provides updates on Reddit first. The link below is for the latest update, where SFU did not come to the bargaining table today prepared to negotiate. Given the importance of coming to an agreement, not coming to the table today is particularly problematic, especially when the university often implies that it is TSSU who is not willing to negotiate.

I would have hoped the job action so far was enough pressure for SFU admin to take action, but apparently not. I suggest those concerned write to SFU’s President, the VPA, the VPPEI, and/or The BC Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Selina Robertson, (selina.robinson.MLA@leg.bc.ca<mailto:selina.robinson.MLA@leg.bc.ca>).

The TSSU is currently in Strand(ed) Hall asking for an academic VP to come to the table.

Mike

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