Dear Contract Faculty Member,
I’m writing to you today to pass on the disappointing news that the conciliation process reached a point of impasse last night and, therefore, has failed to bring about a tentative Collective Agreement worthy of being brought before you and your CAS colleagues. Your negotiating team is currently examining the next steps in this process and while we at WLUFA remain hopeful that the negotiation process might still bring about a fair and reasonable Collective Agreement for you, it is becoming clear that this will not happen without a show of your support.
Details about the Administration’s last position at the negotiating table will be coming to you from our Strategy Committee throughout this week. For now, I would like to impress on you the importance of your attendance at the Bargaining Unit meetings being held on November 11. While we had initially hoped to begin the ratification process at these meetings, the disappointment of yesterday’s conciliation means that the meetings will now be held in order to begin a strike vote. Without a strike mandate, the continuing negotiation process – and a fair Agreement for you, our University’s precariously employed teachers – will most certainly be in jeopardy.
It is imperative that you look to your email for details about your negotiations and the status of your Bargaining Unit over the coming weeks. Please attend the Bargaining Unit meetings on Nov. 11 – and if you cannot attend them, please feel free to come into/ call/ email WLUFA with your questions. In addition, talk to your colleagues and make sure they are aware of what’s happening.
As with any union, our Members’ greatest power lies in the solidarity of our Membership. As your union President, I am personally asking you to step forward, be informed, get involved and show your solidarity with and for your fellow Contract Faculty Members.
Sincerely and in Solidarity,