Bargaining Team Daily News Report , March 12, 2024
The Bargaining Team met today, on March 12, to discuss our strategy in light of our March 7 proposals and the expiry of the Employer’s attempt to move monetary items to mediation-arbitration, and to try to get us to drop the majority of our other proposals. Our discussion of the Employer’s offer reinforced our assessment of arbitration that we conveyed to members at the March 7 SGMM: that it is a bad offer that would only benefit the Employer. The offer, which called for us to send all compensation items to mediation-arbitration, accept the Job Stability Program for Unit 2, and to drop all remaining proposals, was not one we could accept. Those present at today’s meeting agreed that the best way for us to get a fair deal for our members is to negotiate it at the bargaining table.
Strategic Planning and Negotiations
Yesterday afternoon, the Employer formally withdrew their most recent proposal package but stated that they are considering our March 7 package. We remain confident that the bargaining table is the best place to achieve the new Collective Agreement our members need. Much of our meeting today was devoted to discussion of how we can put pressure on the York University administration to do what’s right and return to the table. We also discussed the widespread cuts to Unit 2 work that have come to light over the past couple of weeks; the bargaining team has sought and received legal advice on the best way to challenge the Employer’s attempt to impose drastic job cuts and restructuring of work in the midst of bargaining—without any consultation or notification.
Actions and Strategies
Following the members’ discussions and our lawyer, Mae Nam’s, advice, the Bargaining Team is developing a strategy. The meeting was adjourned with tasks related to that strategy, as well as tasks outlined to prepare for the Special General Membership Meeting (SGMM) on Thursday, March 14 from 5-8PM.
As well as discussing the process around our new plan for the bargaining team to provide daily updates during the strike, we discussed bargaining dates for next week. We have communicated these dates to the Conciliator and the Employer. See below for further details of when our next prep meeting will be, and when we are making ourselves available to the Employer to bargain. In the meantime, a reminder that members and supporters can use this tool to urge the Employer back to the table to bargain a deal that will ensure our members do not have to live in poverty.
In order to provide members with the most up-to-date information on the activities of the bargaining process during the strike, the Bargaining Team will also provide frequent updates on our activities.
Next Bargaining Team Meeting
Our next meeting will be on Monday, March 18 from 1-5PM. All members are welcome to join using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82546415013?pwd=OG5BQ1BJK0x2Y1BVemd3Vm53bzArdz09
We have also sent the following dates the Employer and the Conciliator in hopes of returning to the bargaining and we will make these dates available on the CUPE 3903 website as soon as we hear back from them:
- Tuesday, March 19, 10AM to 5PM
- Wednesday, March 20, 10AM to 5PM
- Thursday, March 21, 11AM to 5PM