Collective Agreement Update

All of us have been waiting, with dwindling patience, for the language of the collective agreement to be finalized, for the agreement to be signed and any increases distributed.  More than a month ago, we and the University announced with some fanfare that our 'disagreement' over article 23 had been resolved, and that we only had a few minor details still to work out.   

 

Despite this, to our complete incredulity, the University has sent a document containing language suggesting it has back-tracked once again on our agreement, that it is pushing to include wording introducing new ambiguity into our contract.  We are not clear on their intentions.  What we know is that the already intolerable delays have become outrageous.  

 

There was a draft prepared by the PSAC legal affairs office of a complaint to be sent to Quebec's Commission des relations du travail (the Quebec labour board).  If the University maintains its position at this point the union will surely have no choice but to file this complaint without further delay.   

 

Please believe that we are as frustrated as you are and thoroughly fed up with the tactics of the University's administration.  There was absolutely nothing in our communications to this point that lead us to believe they would renege on our agreement.  In fact, everything caused us to believe they were in good faith concerning this matter and that we'd be able to announce a conclusion by today or at least by the end of the week.  The executive and negotiation committee realize that stronger action needs to be taken in this dispute.  More information will follow in short order.