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Posted: 18/08/2010


The following message was sent from Donna Gray, Research Director, OCUFA:


Hi all;


Attached please find the letter (click here) OCUFA has sent to the Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in support of the striking support staff, who are members of OPSEU Local 677. Also attached is a flyer (click here) from OPSEU with some details on the bargaining situation there.


Best wishes,

Donna


Donna Gray
Research Director, OCUFA
83 Yonge St. Suite 300
Toronto ON M5C 1S8
office (416) 306-6038
cell (416) 647-339-7840

Posted: 17/08/2010

The following message was sent from Jim Turk, Executive Director of CAUT:

16/08/2010

Greetings,

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine Academic and General Staff Association general staff unit went on strike this morning. The NOSMFA is a member of both CAUT and OPSEU.

This is the first strike in our sector in Ontario since the Ontario Government asked in July that all collective bargaining be paused while there are consultations provincially with provincial unions and employers to ensure that there would be “no net compensation for the next two years” in the university sector, as well as for all other public sector workers.

It will be vital that all CAUT member associations provide strong support to our colleagues at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. We will shortly be sending out detailed information about the issues in the strike and where you can send messages of support and solidarity.

Sincerely,

Jim

PS You can find brief news about the strike in today’s Sudbury Star: http://www.thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2714731


James L. Turk // Executive Director / Directeur général // Canadian Association of University Teachers / Association canadienne des professeures et professeurs d’université // 2705 promenade Queensview Drive / Ottawa, (Ontario) / K2B 8K2 // tél 613.726-5176 / téléc 613.820-7244 / mobile 613.277-0488 / turk@caut.ca

Posted: 17/08/2010

Workers hit picket lines after NOSM contract talks break down

(SUDBURY – August 16, 2010)
More than 150 clerical, administrative and technical staff walked off the job today after contract talks with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine broke down.

Picket lines have gone up at the school’s two main campuses in Sudbury, at Laurentian University, and at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. The school also operates satellite campuses in Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie.

“All along we have said we were at the table to negotiate a fair contract, not to negotiate for a strike,” said Tyler England, chair of the bargaining team for Local 677 of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

“But as the strike deadline drew closer it became more apparent that the employer didn’t appear to be interested in reaching a fair settlement for our members.”

In late July members of Local 677 voted 97 per cent in favour of strike action if talks broke down. Five days of mediation last week failed to bring about a settlement.

Outstanding issues include hours of work, overtime, sick leaves, family leaves and wages.

No future talks are scheduled.

Posted: 10/08/2010

Please see the following letter of support sent to the Minister of Finance from CFS Ontario: 2010.08-LettertoDuncan-WageRestraint. CFS is initiating a campaign that will encourage students to enter into coalitions with faculty and staff associations.

Posted: 06/08/2010

Resolution on the Ontario Government’s Wage Restraint Request

WHEREAS the Ontario Government is asking workers in the broader public sector to accept a wage freeze, and

WHEREAS the Government of Ontario has said repeatedly that this wage restraint policy can and will in no way interfere with free collective bargaining, and

WHEREAS collective bargaining at the faculty association level is the only process currently in place for determining wages, so that any wage proposal must be made through that process, and

WHEREAS faculty associations have a proven history of responsible collective bargaining, conducted with a view, not just to terms and conditions of work for academic staff but also to improving the quality of educating in Ontario, addressing the needs of students, and enriching university life,

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that faculty associations will conduct contract negotiations in the letter and spirit of free collective bargaining, in the interests of their members and the profession, and in accordance with their tradition of responsible labour relations.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that faculty associations will strenuously oppose any infringement on free collective bargaining; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Ontario academic staff, through their representative organizations and working with other public sector unions, will take such action as is necessary to preserve free collective bargaining in the Province of Ontario and to protect the interests of public sector workers, the people they serve, and their communities.

Toronto, July 30, 2010

Posted: 05/08/2010

Ontario Faculty meet to discuss compensation restraint

TORONTO – On July 30, 2010, representatives of Ontario’s faculty associations met to discuss the Government of Ontario’s request for a voluntary compensation freeze and the upcoming compensation consultations. Also in attendance were the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), several unions who represent sessional faculty, and the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), who also organized the meeting. Stephen Barrett, of the law firm Sack Goldblatt Mitchell, made a presentation on the legal implications of the government’s wage restraint initiative.

After a productive discussion, the assembled faculty representatives unanimously agreed that protecting quality of education is their primary concern, and that the government’s proposals may compromise the learning experience of Ontario’s students. While we are willing to listen to the government on this issue, faculty will oppose any compensation policy that harms postsecondary education in Ontario and proves inequitable for our members.

It was also decided that a delegation will be sent to the upcoming consultations, to be held in Toronto from August 9-22, with a mandate to learn more about the government’s proposed structure for the consultation and their desired outcome. Once the delegation has received this information, they will confer with faculty associations across Ontario to decide whether to continue their participation.

The meeting also indicated their desire to see true sector-wide discussions take place during the consultations. At present, several unions that represent contract faculty, post-doctoral students and graduate assistants are not invited to the August 9-22 consultations. While these unions are invited to subsequent consultations, university faculty feel strongly that all university stakeholders be represented at the table.

Throughout the consultations, OCUFA will be providing regular updates on the proceedings. These will be emailed to our member associations for distribution to their members.

Graeme Stewart
Communication and Government Relations Manager
Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations
300-83 Yonge St. ~ Toronto, ON ~ M5C 1S8
416 979 2117 x232 (Office) | 647 280 3175 (Mobile)
gstewart@ocufa.on.ca | www.ocufa.on.ca | www.twitter.com/ocufa

Posted: 03/08/2010

Don’t target universities in debt fight

as published in the Toronto Star on August 02, 2010

Article by Mark Langer

Posted: 27/07/2010

Update on Bargaining in Ontario

There has been a good deal discussion in the media about a two year wage freeze for Ontario public sector workers, including university academic and general staff. We would like you to be aware of the facts.
On Tuesday, Dwight Duncan, the Minister of Finance, met with stakeholders and said that he was encouraging all those in bargaining to agree to a pause and that all interest arbitrations be put on hold. He also announced that the Government was convening sectoral “consultations” with the university sector scheduled for Aug 9-20 at the Royal York in Toronto.
Apparently, the participants will work around the clock for twelve days to reach a consensus. The objective of the “consultation” is for labour and management in the university sector plus government representatives to come up with solutions and options on how to meet the Government’s policy objectives.
On Thursday, CAUT arranged a conference call of the leaders of all academic staff associations currently in bargaining to share information about what the government had said and to discuss what we, as the associations representing academic staff, wanted to do.  It was agreed that there will be a meeting in Toronto next week of the presidents of all academic staff associations in Ontario to discuss whether we will participate in the “consultation”; if so, who our negotiators will be; what mandate they will have from all the academic staff associations in Ontario; and what system of accountability there will be between those at the table and the leadership of associations across the province. The actual agenda will be set by the presidents at the start of next week’s meeting — the date still to be determined. OCUFA is sending out a notice to each president and CAUT and OCUFA will cover the travel costs.
Until then, it is important to know:
1) The government has stated its wish that there be no net compensation increase for the first two years of any agreement signed after the current agreement expires. There has been no legislation that authorizes the government to impose this restriction.
2) The government has indicated its desire that bargaining be paused and that all interest arbitration be placed on hold until after the Aug 9-20 “consultation.”. As with the first item, this is only a request and the government has no legislative authority to impose it. Parties are free to continue bargaining and to negotiate whatever they want. The government has indicated that it will not add additional money in the event of a negotiated increase so each university would have to find the money in its current budget.
3) The government’s hope apparently is that the Aug 9-20 “consultation” will result in the parties agreeing to a sectoral framework consistent with the government’s plan. It seemed to be the consensus of presidents on Thursday’s conference call that the obligation of academic staff associations is to put the interests of its members first, not to act as an agent for the government in its efforts at setting sectoral bargaining restrictions.
We will keep you updated following the meeting of association presidents next week.
If there is anything else you would like to see on the website, please contact the WLUFA Office.

Created on: Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

Last updated on: Thursday, August 19th, 2010