Collective Bargaining at MHC
The majority of Medicine Hat College (MHC) employees are represented by either the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) or the Medicine Hat College Faculty Association (MHCFA). MHC is committed to negotiating collective agreements that are fair, sustainable and support the College’s strategic objectives.
Collective bargaining determines the terms and conditions of employment through negotiations between a union and an employer. The Government of Alberta’s Bargaining 101 page provides definitions for many terms used in this process.
A typical collective bargaining process includes the following steps:
- Notice to Commence: Either MHC or the union (AUPE) or association (MHCFA) issues a notice to initiate collective bargaining.
- Opening Proposals: Both parties exchange opening proposals, which may include additions, changes, or deletions to the collective agreement.
- Negotiations: Bargaining teams from MHC and the relevant union/association meet for scheduled negotiations. Both parties are required to bargain in good faith and make every reasonable effort to reach a new collective agreement.
- Mediation: Either or both parties can request a mediator to help them with their negotiations at any point during collective bargaining. Typically, parties engage the services of a Mediator after they have met a number of times and are struggling to find consensus.
- Settlement and Ratification: Once a tentative agreement is reached for a new collective agreement by the bargaining teams, it must then be ratified by MHC’s Board of Governors and the union or association membership. This process is called ratification and is based on the majority of those bargaining unit members that actually vote during ratification. Thus, it is really important that union and association members exercise their right to vote during the ratification process.
Negotiation Updates
Bargaining updates will be provided by MHC after each bargaining session with either AUPE or MHCFA and posted here when available.Date | AUPE Activity |
September 16 & 17, 2024 | Day 1 & 2 of bargaining
Next scheduled bargaining dates are December 2 and 3, 2024.
|
April 9, 2024 | MHC acknowledged receipt of notice to bargain and notified AUPE of MHC’s bargaining team |
April 4, 2024 | Notice to commence collective bargaining received (served by AUPE) |
June 30, 2024 | The nominal term of the collective agreement expires and statutory bridging period commences while the parties engage in collective bargaining. |
Date | MHCFA Activity |
November 13/14, 2024 |
Days 8 and 9 of bargaining
Given the progress made in these two days of bargaining, the parties agreed to cancel the Friday, November 15th meetings and resume bargaining in the new year. Next scheduled bargaining dates are to be confirmed. |
October 22/23/24/25, 2024 |
Days 4, 5, 6 and 7 of bargaining
|
September 10, 2024 |
Day 3 of bargaining
|
September 9, 2024 |
Day 2 of bargaining
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May 2, 2024 |
Day 1 of bargaining:
Next meeting date scheduled for September 9, 2024. |
April 9, 2024 | MHC acknowledged receipt of notice to bargain and notified MHCFA of MHC’s bargaining team |
April 3, 2024 | Notice to commence collective bargaining received (served by FA) |
June 30, 2024 | The nominal term of the collective agreement expires and statutory bridging period commences while the parties engage in collective bargaining. |