Bargaining Team Report Back March 29th
Bargaining stalled; Union working to re-start negotiations
During bargaining sessions with the Mediators on March 24 and 25, the Union and Employer reached significant agreement on all proposals in Schedule 1. We also reached agreement on most of the proposals in Schedule 2 with the Unit 3 items moved to Schedule 3 at the Employer’s request. At the end of the bargaining session on March 25, the Union presented counter proposals and questions for the Employer to respond to in the form of a revised proposal of Schedules 3 and 4. However, we did not make further movement on wages given a lack of substantial movement on wages from the Employer. The Mediators responded by informing the Bargaining Team that they would not be inviting the parties back to the bargaining table until further notice.
Next Steps
Following the bargaining report at the March 27 Special General Membership Meeting, the membership affirmed the Bargaining Team’s ability to make binding, real time decisions at the table.
At the end of the day on Thursday, March 28, the Bargaining Team reached out to the Employer and the Mediators to urge the Employer to respond to our March 25 6pm package. We have also provided a list of questions on proposals where the Employer has so far been silent or not offered us a counter-proposal. See “The Path to Agreement Requires Reciprocity” for more details. The Union has indicated to the Employer and the Mediators that we are awaiting a response to our March 25 6 pm package and our questions, and that upon receipt of those responses, we are prepared to present a new comprehensive package and resume bargaining. We look forward to the Employer taking these actions available to them to be able to meet us at the table.
Units 1 and 3 are invited to join the Bargaining Team at a townhall on April 1 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for an update on bargaining and our proposals. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85602475024?pwd=a01zd0xHNGdzZU9hQURyZGhzRUd4QT09
The Bargaining Team will also be holding a preparatory meeting on April 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to prepare further and to discuss our next steps.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84919844024?pwd=eStSUmdYaVZZRFRSUXovaXpBc3RQZz09
Further Bargaining Team Preparatory Meetings include April 3 from from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and April 4 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to discuss the latest developments in bargaining for Units 1, 2, and 3, and strategize the next steps. All members are welcome!
Keep an eye on 3903.cupe.ca/calendar for all the latest events and meetings.