Emily Carr Negotiations Overview

Negotiations between Emily Carr University and CUPE Local 15 commenced June 29, 2010 with the hope of concluding a collective agreement in a timely fashion. This would have been to the benefit of all parties, especially for you the members!

Unfortunately that has not been the case, and we would like to share with you some of the challenges your negotiating committee has faced along the way.

The Employer has been provided a mandate by the Province to negotiate a two year, net-zero agreement. Even the slightest cost improvement is not allowed under this mandate. This provides no opportunity to negotiate any compensation when the Employer can only say no to improvements or look for concessions, which we will not agree to.

The Post Secondary Employers’ Association has also dictated to the University that the $500 vision benefit that the employees have enjoyed since 2007 must be clawed back, because it wasn’t negotiated into the contract. This is grossly unfair to the CUPE members at Emily Carr and we will pursue this issue through other channels.

The discussions at the bargaining table have been challenging and to say the least, frustrating for the committee.

When the Employer is not hiding behind the government net zero mandate they then try to claim it is a managements rights issue. There has however, been some progress in addressing some of the Union’s non monetary issues, but the monetary proposals are met with NO!

Which brings us to the current status of negotiations.

Your committee has worked very hard to protect the rights and benefits that you currently enjoy as well as having fought hard to try and accomplish improvements to the current collective agreement.

There are far too many CONCESSIONS still proposed by the Employer that the committee needs to bring to your attention. As well, the committee wishes to remind the members that these CONCESSIONS are on top of a TWO YEAR ZERO WAGE INCREASE!

A ZERO mandate over two years as proposed by the University does nothing to help offset the cost of living increase in Vancouver for our members, as inflation in Vancouver is currently running at 2.4%.

Your negotiating committee needs your support to allow your voices to be heard at the bargaining table.

You deserve to be treated with the same respect you show and provide to this University every day!

We are committed to achieving a collective agreement without a labour dispute, and we will utilize all of the resources available to us to accomplish that! But if that fails, negotiations will need to be escalated and your negotiating committee will need your support to do that!

We will also be looking at putting together a strategic organizing committee to enhance our communications network to ensure ALL members are part of achieving a successful and fair collective agreement for CUPE Local 15 members at Emily Carr University.

In solidarity,
Kathie Currie
Staff Representative
On behalf of your Bargaining Committee: Gaye Fowler, Shannon McKinnon, Danielle Zandvliet and Emma Somers

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CEP L467-UW