Following the ‘Red Lines’ General Membership Meeting, it is apparent that the employer’s position is much too distant from what CUPE 3903’s membership needs. Consequently, the CUPE 3903 bargaining team for Units, 1, 2, and 3 have requested that the conciliator file a ‘no board’ report. This report is a further legal step, following the strike mandate vote, toward a legal strike position. After the report is filed, there is a 17-day wait period, throughout which we intend to keep bargaining. Contingent on the report being filed, and the availability of rooms, we are tentatively looking at a final offer meeting on March 2.
On Thursday, February 8, the bargaining team did meet briefly with the employer. We were provided with written passes for three proposals which were discussed last Monday: protection from the application of Grant-in-Aid toward tuition without the Unit 1 member’s permission, equity hiring language for Unit 3, and a statement that proof of practice requirements in Nursing would be “reasonably connected to the duties of the position”.
The union’s bargaining team expressed to the employer that we hope to meet with them next Monday, at which point we will have responses and counter-proposals. Bargaining on Monday February 12 is not yet confirmed.