It seems the Charter Right to organize politically can be contractually suppressed. And the employers at the UofS made sure to point it out too, to discourage faculty and others from taking part in the Day of Action November 22 set for the UofS and UofR.
CUPE 1975 responds:
Join us in holding the line and holding the employer publicly accountable for refusing to settle this dispute today in conciliation talks.
In an effort to expedite a settlement, CUPE 1975 proposed this [Wednesday] morning (through conciliator Doug Forseth) that both parties agree to refer the two outstanding issues to mediation. CUPE 1975 said if the employer agreed, all striking CUPE members would be back to work within two days.
At 3 p.m. [Wednesday] afternoon, the employer refused our request to settle the dispute through mediation, ending all hope of finding a settlement at the table today.
CUPE 1975 is holding a rally at 11 a.m. [Thursday] as part of our Day of Action. The rally will be held near the Memorial Gates. Speakers include faculty, students, union leaders and others.
Please come out and show that you support an end to the strike, through a fair settlement.
November 21, 2007
Mr. Greg Trew, Chief Negotiator
On Behalf of the U of S and U of R
402 David Knight Lane
Saskatoon, SK S7K 5M2Re: Final Offer for CUPE Local 1975 / CUPE Local 1975-01
We believe we have reached an impasse and are confident that with the overwhelming support from the other employees at the Universities, our memberships will reject your final offer of November 20, 2007. We, therefore, have no problem taking it back to our membership for a vote.However, we also recognize the considerable time and effort that will take. In an effort to expedite a process which would return our members to work sooner, we request that the parties agree to ask conciliator Forseth to act as mediator on the issues which remained outstanding as of October 25, 2007 (increments and benefits). And, if necessary, submit a report with recommendations for settlement.
If agreement can be reached on mediation, we would be prepared to return our members to work within two days of reaching agreement to proceed to mediation.Yours truly,
Don Moran Lois Lamon
National Representative National Representative
KM/LL/kmd/val:cope491
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More information from the UofS bystander perspective can be read here.
@hotmail.com
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Patrick Ross | 23-Nov-07 at 11:57 am | Permalink
It takes two sides to decline to settle an issue, especially when labour unions are involved.
Naturally, both sides accuse the other of refusing to settle, but the fact is that both sides have room to budge. If neither does, the refusal is mutual.
Non-unionized workers have no obligation to strike in support of unionized workers. In fact, they have no protections in place if they do. In theory, they can quite easily be replaced.
Nor are they likely to choose to. They’re choosing to work non-union for a reason, and as someone who chooses to work non-union, I can tell you all about that.
Saskboy | 23-Nov-07 at 12:22 pm | Permalink
“They’re choosing to work non-union for a reason, and as someone who chooses to work non-union, I can tell you all about that.”
Wrong Patrick. They are in their own unions, just not in CUPE 1975 and -01.
Patrick Ross | 23-Nov-07 at 5:38 pm | Permalink
OK, I see.
I thought when you said non-CUPE, you meant non-Union.
That being said, Unions aren’t necessarily legally protected in case of so-called “sympathy strikes”. Those particular unions already have collective agreements in place with the U of S. They can’t break those agreements simply because some other union isn’t getting a deal they like.
Saskboy | 23-Nov-07 at 8:20 pm | Permalink
The unions at UofS can respect the picket lines, it’s in their collective Agreements. Not so for UofR unions like URSU, URFA, and the other CUPE.