1. MRSA New Employee Orientation
Welcome to your MRSA Orientation

2. Introductions Employees attending MRSA Executive
Name
Department/ Faculty, Business Area
Start at MRU
MRSA Executive
MRSA role

3. Our Agenda for the hour A Brief History of MRSA
MRSA Organizational and Governance Structure
Board
Committees
Brief MRSA Facts
MRSA at MRU
Q & A

4. History of our Mount Royal Staff Association
June 1978 – January 2013
January Present
Certified in 1978 as the MRSSA (Mount Royal Support Staff Association)
MRSSA renamed MRSA in (Mount Royal Staff Association)
Certified union by the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB)
MRSA turned 40 in June 2018
Currently have approximately 640; our number can fluctuate each month with retirements, leaves, etc.

6. Vision A culture of recognition and mutual respect
where the MRSA is an equal and valued partner
in the MRU community.
Updated August 2018

7. The MRSA is a bargaining unit that advocates for
Mission
The MRSA is a bargaining unit that advocates for
the collective rights and interests of its members and builds community.
Updated August 2018

9. Organizational Governance
Constitution
Policies & Procedures
Terms of Reference (Charter)
MRSA
Committee

10. What the MRSA Executive Board Does?
Sit on MRU Committees where appropriate to have staff representation
ex. Board of Governors
Advocate on behalf of YOU (members) regarding any concerns
Represent YOU (members) with any Collective Agreement issues
Make MRSA budget decisions to ensure contributions to the reserve/defense fund
Educate ourselves and members about new legislations

11. What the MRSA Executive Board Does?
Network with MSA (MacEwan) and NASA (UofA)
Provide social activities for YOU (members) to attend
Attend weekly board meetings
Organize and participate in MRSA Committees
and more… check out our website & Newsletter

12. Organizational Structure Executive Board & Committees

14. Committee Information
Audit & Finance
Treasurer serves as Chair
Oversees the MRSA budget, internal controls, and risk mitigation
Works with the external auditor to prepare the annual financial statements
Treasurer presents the budget at our Annual General Meeting

15. Committee Information continued…
Employee Relations
Social Committee
Assist employees with any workplace concerns
Work on dispute resolution mechanisms
Meets with a representative from HR when necessary
Attend labour relations conference
Responsible for the social committee budget
Propose, organize and run social activities/events for members

16. Committee Information continued…
Governance Committee
PD Committee
Ensure MRSA Policies & Procedures are up to date and in alignment with the MRSA Constitution
Changes are approved by the MRSA Executive Board
Create Professional Development opportunities for members
PD Day
Lunch and Learns

17. Committee Information continued…
Negotiations Committee
MRU Coalition Committee
Participate in training to learn to negotiate
Research and prepare for negotiations on Collective Agreement with MRU Board of Governors (BoG)
Communicate information to members once negotiations has concluded
Commence new negotiations with the BoG if members reject an initial proposal.
2 MRSA, 2 MRFA & 2 SAMRU
Monthly meetings
Propose strategies for affecting public policy
Identify matters of common interest

18. Committee Information continued…
Communications Committee
Assist in drafting messaging to members from MRSA
Revamped the MRSA Newsletter
Monitor a communication
Currently working on updating our website

19. Committee Information
Education, Development & Training (EDT)
Collective Agreement item – MRU Provides annual funding
$145K
$120K – Professional
$25K - Personal
Reimbursement for MRSA members, their spouses and dependents ($35K) for education, development and/or training
Cont. Ed. Complimentary courses
50% family discount on Cont. Ed courses
Reimbursed through HR - $40K

20. MRSA Facts

21. Our MRSA Membership by Age Distribution; Who You Work With:
This is approximate, as our number of members changes each semester.

22. Our MRSA Colleagues; Years of Service Distribution

24. How we see ourselves Groups within MRU We view groups as Students
MRSA
MRFA
SAMRU
MRU
Students
Colleagues

25. What Does the MRSA Do for Us:
Negotiate and champion the Collective Agreement
Maintain relationships with all stakeholders internally & externally
Provide professional development opportunities
And so much more…

26. What Does the MRSA Do for Us:
Manage the MRSA budget and defense fund
Help with dispute resolution
Provide Staff Lounge usage
Organize events and activities
And so much more…

27. MRU Stakeholder Committees
Transportation
Effective Team Award
Sustainability
Distinguished Awards
MRSA New Employee Orientation
Daycare
University Search committees
Diversity and Meaningful Inclusion
MRSA, MRFA & SAMRU Coalition
Joint Occupation Health and Safety

28. Your Association Wants YOU to Be Informed and Involved!
INFORMATION ABOUT THE MRSA
WEBSITE
Read your Collective Agreement, access via the Governance tab on our website
Read the monthly MRSA Newsletters that are ed to you
Attend the AGM and the GM in November and May respectively, all members are encouraged to attend (Collective Agreement Article 7.3 negotiated item)
Join committees or run for an Executive Board position
Exercise your right and vote in MRSA Elections, ratification votes, etc!

29. Contact Your MRSA Website: www.mrustaff.ca
MRSA office: W301 | Staff lounge: W305
Phone:

31. Thank you
and
Welcome to
MRU