Bulletin #3- June 25, 2012
University Offers 2% and 1.5% wage increases, CUPE issues strike notice.
This update is further to the April 23 Bargaining Bulletin where I reported that bargaining with CUPE locals 917, 951 and 4163 (Components 1 and 2) would continue with the assistance of mediator Mark Atkinson.
Bargaining sessions took place June 5, 7, 21 and 22. During the June 21-22 bargaining sessions, the university formally offered a 2 per cent general wage increase on July 1, 2012 as well as a further 1.5 per cent increase on April 1, 2013.
Under the “cooperative gains” bargaining mandate established by the provincial government, the government has been clear that there will be no provincial funding for public sector wage increases. As such, any negotiated wage increases must be funded by savings or reductions elsewhere in the university's operating budget.
Despite the university's current and forecast budget challenges, the university's negotiating team was clear that the university believes employees deserve a wage increase and made a reasonable offer based on what the university can afford. We believe this is a strong offer in light of our current fiscal circumstances.
Strike notice served by CUPE on June 25
Rather than respond to our offer, CUPE locals 951 and 917 served the university with strike notice on June 25.
Negotiations with CUPE 4163 (1 & 2) are on hold and the mediator remains engaged in that process.
Next steps and the impact on campus operations
It’s important to note that serving strike notice does not mean a strike is inevitable at UVic. It is a relatively common tactic in negotiations and a legal requirement if a union wants to reserve the right to use some form of job action in a dispute, whether a full strike or other types of withdrawal of service such as study sessions, work-to-rule or overtime bans.
It continues to be the university’s desire to reach a negotiated settlement at the earliest possible opportunity. We remain hopeful that this can be achieved without a major disruption.
As the required next step under BC labour law, we have asked the BC Labour Relations Board (LRB) to designate “essential services”. The law requires employers and unions to maintain certain essential services to the public when unions take job action in a labour dispute.
Essential services are those related to the health, safety or the welfare of British Columbia residents. Designation of essential services involves identifying the facilities and levels of service needed to prevent immediate and serious danger to the public or to prevent immediate and serious disruption to educational programs. When the Board designates services as essential, the employer is required to provide those services, and the union is required to allow its members to perform those services in the event of a strike or other job action.
The essential services designation process first involves discussions between the university and its unions, and then if necessary, the assistance of the LRB to mediate or adjudicate essential services and staffing levels.
Timing and Further Updates
We anticipate the essential services process will take two to four weeks, beginning July 3, 2012.
While the process is underway, the unions cannot legally initiate a strike or any other job action. Once essential services are finally settled, the unions may initiate job action anytime after another 48 hours has elapsed.
As the situation is dynamic, however, we will keep our community updated of any developments, the university’s plans, and any anticipated impact on services and programs. University units will be provided with advice and assistance in planning for and dealing with possible job action and supplied with information that can be shared with faculty, students and staff.
University administrators with any questions about this bulletin should feel free to contact their Human Resources Consultant.
Thank you,
Kane
Kane Kilbey
Associate Vice President
Human Resources
University of Victoria
PO Box 1700 STN CSC Victoria, BC V8W 2Y2
phone: (250) 721-8031
fax: (250) 721-8094
e-mail: kanek@uvic.ca