U of G TAs have Strong Strike Mandate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guelph, ON February 28, 2006
CUPE 3913 strike vote turns up a very strong yes
The members of CUPE 3913, the union representing Teaching Assistants and Sessional Lecturers at the University of Guelph, have given a very strong strike mandate to their bargaining team.
The Local is currently in negotiations with the University. Their Collective Agreement expired August 31, 2005.
"It proves to us what we've been telling the university all along," said Toni Xerri, the Union's Chief Negotiator. "Our proposals are our members' proposals and our members have been behind them all the way. Now they have shown that they're behind this bargaining team wholeheartedly."
"I'm feeling strengthened by our membership," said Deborah Woodman, the Union's Chair. "This is the strongest strike mandate this Local has ever had."
"I am confident that when we return to the table tomorrow things will start to move,"
Woodman added.
The Union's membership authorized the strike vote at a membership meeting December 1st, 2005. A key point for the Union is making sure that tuition fee hikes don't erode wage increases for members. Other key points are class sizes, workload, Sessional/TA-Student ratio and health and safety issues.
"What we do next depends on the University. Hopefully this vote will convince the University to stop the delaying tactics and reach a settlement that both parties can live with," Xerri said.
"The University has to understand that our members are ready, able and willing to walk. The ball is now in the University's court," said Xerri.
CUPE 3913 filed for conciliation with the Ministry of Labour on February 20th. Conciliation is the point in negotiations, as legislated by the Labour Relations Act, where either party has the right to request that a Conciliator be appointed to facilitate negotiations.
The Union returns to the bargaining table tomorrow morning in what turns out to be the last scheduled meeting till March 23.
CUPE 3913 represents over 1200 Teaching Assistants and Sessional Lecturers at the University of Guelph and is the largest trade union in Guelph.
Guelph, ON February 28, 2006
CUPE 3913 strike vote turns up a very strong yes
The members of CUPE 3913, the union representing Teaching Assistants and Sessional Lecturers at the University of Guelph, have given a very strong strike mandate to their bargaining team.
The Local is currently in negotiations with the University. Their Collective Agreement expired August 31, 2005.
"It proves to us what we've been telling the university all along," said Toni Xerri, the Union's Chief Negotiator. "Our proposals are our members' proposals and our members have been behind them all the way. Now they have shown that they're behind this bargaining team wholeheartedly."
"I'm feeling strengthened by our membership," said Deborah Woodman, the Union's Chair. "This is the strongest strike mandate this Local has ever had."
"I am confident that when we return to the table tomorrow things will start to move,"
Woodman added.
The Union's membership authorized the strike vote at a membership meeting December 1st, 2005. A key point for the Union is making sure that tuition fee hikes don't erode wage increases for members. Other key points are class sizes, workload, Sessional/TA-Student ratio and health and safety issues.
"What we do next depends on the University. Hopefully this vote will convince the University to stop the delaying tactics and reach a settlement that both parties can live with," Xerri said.
"The University has to understand that our members are ready, able and willing to walk. The ball is now in the University's court," said Xerri.
CUPE 3913 filed for conciliation with the Ministry of Labour on February 20th. Conciliation is the point in negotiations, as legislated by the Labour Relations Act, where either party has the right to request that a Conciliator be appointed to facilitate negotiations.
The Union returns to the bargaining table tomorrow morning in what turns out to be the last scheduled meeting till March 23.
CUPE 3913 represents over 1200 Teaching Assistants and Sessional Lecturers at the University of Guelph and is the largest trade union in Guelph.
posted by CUPE Local 1356 @ Wednesday, March 01, 2006
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home