CBU SUPPORT STAFF VOTES IN FAVOUR OF STRIKE
Issues include pay, contracting out and job security
Support staff at Cape Breton University voted 96 per cent in favour of a strike if they can’t finalize contract negotiations with their employer.
The vote took place on Jan. 29. The staff, who are members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3131, have been without a contract since March 31, 2016.
Since then there has been eight face-to-face bargaining sessions between the union and the university.
“The big issues for CUPE 3131 are contracting out (of the union), job security and wages,” said Darren MacKinnon, CUPE 3131 president.
“We’re not looking for anything that the other existing unions at Cape Breton University don’t already have ... we’re basically looking for equality with the other unions.”
The two other unions that have been able to finalize their contracts are Cape Breton University Faculty Association and Nova Scotia Government and Generalized Employees Union.
No one from CBU was available to speak on the issue.
This affects about 65 support staff working in the library, IT support, student services, finances and various administration assistants.
“Our first hope is that it doesn’t come to this (strike) at all ... but the effect for any student will unfortunately be a disruption of services,” said MacKinnon, who works in the IT support department.
“On a positive note … CUPE is very hopeful that with the announcement of Dave Dingwall’s presidency, that he may shed some new light on the subject at hand and help move this process forward in a positive manner.”
Talks between the two parties broke down again last week. The union applied to the Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education for a conciliator to sit in on negotiations.
This will take place when the two sides meet again on Feb. 13, said MacKinnon, who was on the executive for four years before becoming president in March.
If the two sides are unable to come to an agreement to the terms of the new contract on Feb. 13, MacKinnon said there is a strong possibility a strike will follow.
“In the event we don’t succeed at the table, this will be CUPE’s only option.”