Picketing:

Once a lawful strike or lockout is in progress, the Alberta Labour Relations Code (LRC) allows persons to engage in picketing and to try to persuade others not to enter the employer’s place of business or do business with the employer. The right to picket in connection with a labour dispute is subject to the following conditions:

  • It must be peaceful
  • It must take place only at the striking or locked out employee’s place of employment
  • It must not involve acts that are otherwise unlawful

The Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) has the power under the LRC to regulate lawful picketing. It will do so where necessary to maintain the lawful character of the picketing and preserve the peace. The parties themselves may reach an agreement on picketing protocols.

Work Expectations:

During a strike the employees withdraw their labour and participate in job action duties such as participating in pickets, volunteering in the headquarters, coordinating volunteers, etc. The labour the employees withdraw includes, but is not limited to, the following:

  • Teaching, supervising, and advising students
  • Sending/receiving employment related email, including to students
  • Library work, including collection, copyright, teaching and research assistance
  • Service to the University and/or university related community work
  • Administrative duties
  • research
  • clinical teaching under the collective agreement 

All academic staff have the right to participate in job action (strike) unless you are required to remain at work by terms of the Essential Services Agreement (ESA).

Essential Services Agreement:

Prior to serving strike or lockout notice the parties must attend mediation.  But before a mediator can be appointed, the union and the employer must have an Essential Services Agreement filed with the ALRB. Essential services are defined in the LRC as: 

a)   The interruption of which would endanger the life, personal safety or health of the public or

(b)   That are necessary to the maintenance and administration of the rule of law or public safety.

In addition to the essential service identified in (a) and (b), the parties may agree to additional terms in the ESA to services deemed necessary but not essential by the description in the LRC. Only those employees identified in the ESA are exempt from strike or lockout. The terms and conditions of employment of the essential workers form part of the ESA.

What happens to your research/students, etc.

In the event of a strike or lockout, work stops. Except for those paid under the terms of the ESA, all compensation and benefits (except vested benefits or the premiums paid by the union) terms under the collective agreement cease during the strike or lockout. The purpose of work stoppage is to interrupt the employer’s business. Continuing to perform work of any kind such as supervising or advising students is counter to the purpose of work stoppage.  However, the union can have limited strike action, such as allowing members to continue doing unpaid research but off university property.