Sep 14, 2011 - union's last offer before the strike, on the Council's website (www.thecouncil.on.ca). Everyone can read
SUPPORT STAFF STRIKE – Key Messages / Q&A – Updated September 14, 2011 KEY MESSAGES OPSEU’s latest Q&A (September 12) is really disappointing – it contains the same misrepresentations about the colleges’ positions that have been heard before and that the colleges have refuted before. This kind of rhetoric by OPSEU is exactly why the colleges posted their last offer and the union’s last offer before the strike, on the Council’s website (www.thecouncil.on.ca). Everyone can read the proposals for themselves and make their own assessments. OPSEU never invited the colleges back to the table. OPSEU has never asked the colleges back to the bargaining table. There have been no face-to-face meetings since the strike began on September 1. All OPSEU did was send out a press release to say that the colleges should come back to the table with “a fresh approach.” That isn’t an invitation – that is a media tactic. The colleges have always been prepared to go back to the table to reach a negotiated settlement that is reasonable to the employees and affordable to the colleges. The colleges will immediately return to the table when OPSEU has shown that they are willing to bargain in a range that the colleges can afford. Remember that OPSEU started the strike with completely unaffordable proposals on the table. To reach a deal and end the strike, the colleges need more than minor modifications from OPSEU – they need OPSEU to indicate clearly and directly that they are willing to accept economic realities and table proposals that are in line with what the colleges can afford. There are no concessions in the colleges’ proposals. The following responses address each of the points that OPSEU claims are concessions: Compressed Work Weeks – The colleges are of the view that this initiative will have a lot of appeal because employees might like the opportunity to work a four-day week. OPSEU is concerned that if some employees have a four-day workweek then this may cause friction with those employees who still have to work five-day workweeks. Probationary Periods – This extension to 12 months would only affect new hires and not impact wages, benefits, and pensions. The extended probationary period only applies to full-time positions and therefore OPSEU’s claims about this measure could create temporary workforces doesn’t make sense. Limiting Arbitrators Powers – The new provision mirrors the language in the academic collective agreement and simply requires both parties to process grievances in a timely
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fashion. This is not a concession but an assurance that grievances are not delayed by either the colleges or the union. Flexible Hours of Work – It allows a college and the local union to determine the end date of compressed work arrangements without requiring the sign-off of OPSEU central. This clause is designed to encourage flexible work hours and recognizes that each college and their respective local union know what works best at each institution. Initiatives and Opportunities – This letter was added in the last round and it does not impact existing full-time employees. There is no merit to OPSEU’s claims that Support Staff are not getting a fair wage offer. OPSEU Support Staff have just concluded a three-year contract that increased wages by 9% and when the annual 1% increase to the Special Allowance is added in – that’s a 10% increase. These increases occurred during a time when Ontario was going through one of the worst recessions in its history and unemployment rose to 8% across the province. It is also important to remember that all non-union college staff, including administrators, are under a two-year legislated wage restraint. The colleges’ have offered a three-year increase of 4.8% - with no concessions. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Bargaining 1. Why is there no bargaining going on? The colleges are more than willing to go back to the table but going back to the table to talk about the union’s unaffordable positions will not get us a deal. The colleges made a good offer to reach a negotiated settlement, but instead OPSEU chose to launch this unnecessary strike. 2. What will it take to get the two sides together? The colleges have always wanted to reach a negotiated settlement that is reasonable to our employees and affordable to the colleges. Unfortunately, the prospects of reaching a negotiated settlement are not positive so long as the union’s bargainers do not accept the economic realities and remain unwilling to modify their positions. 3. Why did the colleges’ turn down OPSEU’s invitation to return to the bargaining table? Let’s be clear about OPSEU’s invitation to management, OPSEU sent out a press release saying they wanted management to call them to restart talks.
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The colleges are more than willing to go back to the table but going back to the table to talk about the union’s unaffordable positions will not get the employees and the colleges a deal. Unfortunately, the prospects of reaching a negotiated settlement are not positive so long as the union’s bargainers do not accept the economic realities and remain unwilling to modify their positions. 4. What are the main issues to be resolved? The colleges’ put forward a good offer that increases salaries by 4.8% over three years with no concessions from employees. The colleges’ offer will increase wages by 1.5% in year one, 1.5% in year two and 1.75% in year three. This is a reasonable offer and in line with other OPSEU and broader public sector settlements that were averaging 1.2% annual increases in July. Unfortunately, the union has not moved from its unaffordable wage and benefit positions of August 31st, including 3% annual wage increases. Part-time Employment 5. What about part-time employees, the union has said this is a big issue for them? The issue of part-time employment has not been part of the discussion by either the colleges or the union. No provision in the colleges’ proposals would increase the use of part-time employees. In fact, the existing collective agreement gives preference to full-time over part-time employment. The union has no proposals on the table that would alter or limit the use of part-time employees. 6. Are the colleges reducing the number of full-time employees? The colleges have actually increased the number of full-time support staff over the past two years – up from 6,751 in 2008 to 6,936 in 2010. Proposals are Posted Online 7. Where can I find the colleges’ and the union’s proposals? Both proposals have been posted at the College Employer Council website: www.thecouncil.on.ca We encourage people to visit the site and read the proposals. 8. Why should I believe that the union’s real proposals have been posted?
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Rod Bemister, the chair of the union bargaining team, confirmed in a September 7 Twitter post (@Caats_bargain) that the proposals posted on the Council’s website are the union’s and the colleges’ proposals that were on the table when the strike started. 9. Why hasn’t OPSEU posted its own proposal? That’s a good question for OPSEU. The colleges posted both proposals so that support staff and the public can review the proposals in their entirety. 10.
Did the colleges actually table the proposal, I’m hearing otherwise?
The colleges’ proposal was tabled with the union during bargaining at 8:00 p.m. on August 31, 2011. It is posted on the College Employer Council website www.thecouncil.on.ca. Employees Returning to Work 11.
Are the colleges encouraging employees to cross the picket line?
During a strike employees can choose to serve on the picket line, come into work or just stay at home. Whatever an employee chooses, we will fully respect that decision. Employees have the right to continue to work during a strike, provided the college has work available. The law specifically gives employees that right. Each college has already indicated that those employees who wish to work will be accommodated. 12.
Will OPSEU fine employees who cross the line?
Employees have the right to continue to work and we would be disappointed if OPSEU tried to impede these rights. In the event employees choose to exercise their right to work and OPSEU attempts to impose a fine, the colleges will refuse to implement such a fine. If OPSEU attempts to recover this money from employees through the Court system, the colleges will provide employees with legal counsel for defense at the colleges’ expense. In the unlikely event that the Courts uphold these “fines,” the colleges will pay them.
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