Bargaining Updates: ULPA

The Board and the Postdoctoral Fellow Association have reached a first collective agreement that has now been ratified and signed by both parties. The new collective agreement can be found here.

Some highlights of the new agreement include:

• A new minimum annual salary: $45,000 effective immediately, $46,000 effective July 1, 2025, and $47,000 effective July 1, 2026.
• Appointments must be between 3 months and five years. However, there are exceptions in specific circumstances.
• Normal full time hours of work shall be 40 hours per week. A postdoc would be entitled to time off in lieu if they work in excess of 40 hours with the preapproval of their supervisor.
• Evaluations must be conducted at least once per year by the supervisor
• There are a number of leave provisions that supervisors must be aware of and adhere to
• Postdocs are entitled to 15 days of vacation per year. This is in addition to Stat holidays and the days that the University is closed between Christmas and New Years.

The Board will be hosting two information sessions to provide a more detailed walk through of this new agreement. Keep an eye out for this information. If you are not able to attend an information session or have any questions about the collective agreement please feel free to reach out to Angela Rosenau (angela.rosenau@uleth.ca) or Scott Harling (scott.harling@uleth.ca) .

The Board is pleased to announce that it has reached a tentative first Collective Agreement with the University of Lethbridge Postdoctoral Association (ULPA). Each party will now take the tentatively agreed collective Agreement to their constituents for a ratification vote.

The Board wishes to thank and commend the ULPA on a productive round of bargaining.

More details on the Collective Agreement terms will be offered after a successful ratification and information sessions by the Board will also be conducted once ratification is reached.