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Growing job action puts SFU students at risk
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March 31, 2003
Simon Fraser University is concerned that students are being adversely affected by escalating job action. CUPE 3338, representing clerical and technical workers, increased the number of pickets around the administration building today and called members off the job in academic buildings across the Burnaby campus. "CUPE officials claim they don't want to disrupt the work of students," says Kathryn Aberle, spokesperson for the university, "but the withdrawal of service is having an impact." SFU operates on a semester system and strike action affects summer registrations and new students admissions. "If job action continues, we will have a major problem holding exams, recording grades and graduating students," Aberle said.
On two occasions the Bennett Library has been picketed, resulting in severely curtailed hours and services as students attempt to complete term papers and prepare for exams set to start on April 7. As well, the university is concerned that service disruptions in health and counselling put student safety at risk, but the union has not agreed to respect student privacy and access by keeping the area free of pickets in the future.
In spite of the escalation, the university is prepared to continue negotiating with the union and has dramatically reduced its bargaining position to three monetary and two non-monetary proposals. The union has alleged that an enhanced benefit package is being unfairly removed when in fact both parties agreed in the last round of bargaining that the special arrangement would have a three-year expiry date. The university has already proposed an extension to that agreement in the current round.
The challenge for both parties in this dispute is to meet a 0 - 0 - 0 mandate for general wage increases. Adjustments to compensation are possible where it can be demonstrated that wage levels are below market and are having an effect on staff recruitment and retention. Compensation increases associated with productivity gains also are allowed and the university is offering some flexible solutions on the salary side consistent with this framework.
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Contact
Kathryn Aberle, 604.291.3929, aberle@sfu.ca
Gregg Macdonald, 604.291.4661, gregg_macdonald@sfu.ca
On two occasions the Bennett Library has been picketed, resulting in severely curtailed hours and services as students attempt to complete term papers and prepare for exams set to start on April 7. As well, the university is concerned that service disruptions in health and counselling put student safety at risk, but the union has not agreed to respect student privacy and access by keeping the area free of pickets in the future.
In spite of the escalation, the university is prepared to continue negotiating with the union and has dramatically reduced its bargaining position to three monetary and two non-monetary proposals. The union has alleged that an enhanced benefit package is being unfairly removed when in fact both parties agreed in the last round of bargaining that the special arrangement would have a three-year expiry date. The university has already proposed an extension to that agreement in the current round.
The challenge for both parties in this dispute is to meet a 0 - 0 - 0 mandate for general wage increases. Adjustments to compensation are possible where it can be demonstrated that wage levels are below market and are having an effect on staff recruitment and retention. Compensation increases associated with productivity gains also are allowed and the university is offering some flexible solutions on the salary side consistent with this framework.
- 30 -
Contact
Kathryn Aberle, 604.291.3929, aberle@sfu.ca
Gregg Macdonald, 604.291.4661, gregg_macdonald@sfu.ca