Bargaining Update: March 21, 2023

Dear CUPE 233 members,

UPDATE FROM CONCILIATION

Your Negotiating Committee has reached an impasse with TMU. They key outstanding issues remain pensions and wages. We are deeply disappointed with the latest offer from the employer on these two issues. The Union’s proposals on these items would ensure pension fairness with all other bargaining agents on campus, as well as a real wage increase we all deserve. But, TMU did not agree.

As a result of this impasse, we have asked for a “no board” report from the Ministry of Labour. The 17th day after the day we receive the “no board” report will be the legal strike or lockout deadline.

Your Negotiating Committee will notify CUPE 233 members as soon as the “no board” report is received, which is expected within seven (7) days.

PENSION DISPUTE UPDATE

As has been reported, the employer was determined to have violated the collective agreement of our faculty association colleagues by an independent arbitrator in April 2022. The result was a reduction in the pension contribution rate but only for faculty association members. This means CUPE members are now contributing almost half a percent more than faculty for the same level of pension. CUPE insists on an equitable framework for our pension and bargaining rights over pension provision that is no less than the highest standard on our campus.

Further, the bargaining team has learned – in the middle of our bargaining process – that a new (December 2022) valuation of our pension plan has shown that the actual cost of the pension has now dropped significantly. While that is good news, the employer’s actuary is recording the significant difference between current contributions (from both members and the employer) and actual cost as a financial credit of $4 million per year – owing back to the employer alone! The employer felt no obligation to discuss this new valuation and its implications with CUPE or any other union representing plan members.  For this reason, and others relating to past unilateral employer pension decisions, all three unions (CUPE, OPSEU, and TFA) have combined in a close coordination of effort to ensure that in this round of bargaining we each secure the collective agreement language on pensions – and the respect – that we deserve.

IF A STRIKE BECOMES NECESSARY

  • It is important that every member stop reporting to work and instead participate in making the strike as strong as possible.
  • CUPE strike pay starts on the first day of a strike for active employees. It is not taxable income. Strike pay is $300/week for 20 hours of strike duties.
  • We will be reaching out to other CUPE locals in the sector to make a pledge of financial support for CUPE 233’s strike fund in the event we go on strike so we can top-up our strike pay.
  • We will provide more information about strike pay and other logistics at a later date.

Please stay tuned for future bargaining updates.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee