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Striking workers at both the University of
Saskatchewan and University of Regina will be back at work on Monday
after both sides agreed to refer the outstanding issues in the contract
dispute to binding arbitration. The agreement was reached this afternoon with the assistance of
provincial conciliator Doug Forseth. The two sides met for 14 hours
yesterday and returned to the conciliation table at 9 a.m. today. It's not the resolution we wanted, but the government's threat of
back-to-work legislation meant 'arbitration' was the only topic of
discussion at the conciliation table," says CUPE 1975 bargaining chair
Brad McKaig. "Since both employers appeared to prefer legislation to
negotiation, it had a huge influence on what we could achieve at the
table."
Premier Brad Wall told the media on Thursday the government would
end the strike through back-to-work legislation if no agreement was
reached in concilation talks, which resumed Friday. "Given the
threat of government intervention, our only option was to influence how
arbitration would proceed, not whether it would proceed," says McKaig. The
two outstanding issues that triggered the 30-day strike - regular
increments and benefit plans - will be referred to a single arbitrator,
Andrew Simms, whose decision will be binding. "I'm pleased
members are going to be back to work and earning a pay cheque again.
I'm also glad student life will soon be back to normal," says Don Puff,
president of CUPE Local 1975-01 in Regina. "But I'm disappointed we've
had to refer the two issues we walked the line for to a third party.
That's not the outcome we wanted, but we're caught between an employer
that refuses to negotiate and a government that's threatening to
legislate." The tentative agreement provides: - A moratorium on withholding increments pending receipt of the arbitration decision and any appeals
- A retention bonus of $ 1,000 payable on the first pay cheque after the date of signing ·
- Wage increases (including increments) of 4.5%, 4.75% and 5% pending the ruling of the arbitrator
- Significant
reductions in the number of "red-circled" employees, from over 400
members at the start of the collective agreement to less than 50 at the
end of the agreement. These red-circled employees will receive lump sum
increases of 5%, 5% and 5%.
- The removal of all concessions from the employers' package · Extension of shift differential to non-permanent employees
- Improved
pension plan funding to ensure the long-term viability of the plan At
the U of S, matched contributions will rise to 6% on May 1, 2008 and to
6.5% on May 1, 2009 At the U of R, matched contributions increased to
6.5% on Sept. 1, 2007
The CUPE negotiating committee
commended their members for the tremendous unity and courage they
showed on the picket line over the last month. "This strike has
galvanized our membership and exposed the corrosive labour relations
climate at both universities," the negotiating committee says. The
CUPE negotiating committee also thanked concerned academics, sessional
lecturers, administrative assistants (ASPA and APT) and students for
their support and encouraged CUPE 1975 members to return to work with
their heads held high. "We showed our employers what solidarity looks
like - and that's something they won't quickly forget." The
union praised conciliator Doug Forseth for his patience and
perseverance in helping the parties reach a tentative agreement.
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