UCN Rejects Tentative Agreement

Dec 23, 2014

Last week, MGEU members at University College of the North (Local 69 and Local 70) cast their ballots on a new tentative agreement. This morning the ballots were counted and 87% of the UCN members who voted said “no” to the tentative agreement.

The bargaining committee representing UCN members says four main concessions put forward by the employer at the bargaining table are the reasons for the rejection:

1. The employer wants to implement four days off without pay during the life of the agreement in exchange for a salary increase.

2. The employer is looking to introduce employee-paid parking (parking is currently free for faculty and staff at UCN campuses).

3. The employer will not renew the no-layoff clause that was included in the previous contract.

4. The employer wants to remove four positions (Representative Workforce Co-ordinator, Finance Administrator, Facility and Environmental Health & Safety Manager, Director of Community-based services) from the bargaining unit without going to the Manitoba Labour Board.

The UCN bargaining committee’s goal is to return to the bargaining table as early as possible in the new year.  If the committee is unable to make further progress at the bargaining table, they may request a conciliator to help them reach an agreement.

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