July 5, 2016

July 5, 2016
For Immediate Release

WATERLOO – Contract negotiations continue between Wilfrid Laurier University and CUPE 926, which represents approximately 110 custodial, grounds, and trades employees at Laurier’s Waterloo campus and Kitchener location.

The university’s goal is a negotiated settlement that ensures a sustainable and cost-effective model to deliver custodial services while protecting the jobs of our current employees.

The Ministry of Labour issued a No Board report June 23 at the university’s request to keep negotiations moving forward. The No Board report means that as of July 10, the university can legally implement the terms and conditions in its last offer or the union can choose to legally strike. Bargaining can, and often does, continue through this period. The parties met with a provincially appointed mediator on July 4 in an effort to reach an agreement.

• The university’s goal is a negotiated settlement. The university will not lock out its custodial, grounds or trade employees if an agreement is not reached before July 10. If an agreement is not reached, the university will implement the employment conditions of its final offer, including 1.5 per cent retroactive pay to July 1, 2015 and a further 1.5 per cent increase effective July 1, 2016.
• The university’s goal is to ensure a sustainable and cost-effective model to deliver custodial services. The university will only contract out when custodial positions become vacant or if additional resources are needed for new buildings. None of the university’s current CUPE employees will lose their jobs as a result of the university contracting out. CUPE has already agreed to the same contracting-out language at other institutions. In addition, the university will seek third-party contracts that provide predominantly full time jobs with comprehensive benefits.

The university provided the union with an offer for settlement on Jan. 28, 2016 and a revised proposal on July 4. Both offers were rejected by the union bargaining team. The July 4 offer provided grandparenting of the post-retirement benefits arrangement for all current employees.

The university remains committed to reaching an agreement that is in the best interest of our university community.

For more details about the university’s contract negotiations with CUPE, please visit the negotiations update page our clarifications and corrections page and our frequently asked questions.

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