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PrintSEIU Local 2: Skilled trades, maintenance and operations, custodial and cleaning staff
October 12, 2010
Collective bargaining update
SEIU Local 2, which represents operations and maintenance workers, skilled trades and custodians and cleaners at McMaster, is in a legal strike position. Talks between the University and the union were continuing Tuesday afternoon. The union has notified the University its strike date is 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 13.
Should the union decide to strike, the University will remain open and classes, labs and tutorials will continue to be held.
Union picketing will impact campus in a number of ways:
- There will be significant delays getting into and leaving campus. Information on getting to and from campus can be found here
- Bus routes will change. For HSR and Go Transit information go here
- A small number of campus food outlets will be closed
- Delivery of mail, courier packages and other supplies will be significantly delayed
During the strike, the University's highest priority will be ensuring the health and safety of the McMaster community and to continue the academic and research activities of the University.
There are several ways to keep updated and informed during the strike:
dailynews.mcmaster.ca
facebook.com/mcmasteruniversity
twitter.com/mcmasterupdates
October 8, 2010
Members of SEIU Local 2 voted Thursday night to reject the University's contract offer. The five-year deal contained no wage cuts, a range of salary increases, and provided lump sum payments for all employees. It also required changes to benefit provisions in order to meet the province's requirement that all new collective agreements contain no net compensation increases in the first two years.
The current wage rates paid to employees of SEIU, Local 2 are above the living wage for Hamilton, which is between $13.50 and $14.00 an hour.
The current rates for the bargaining unit range from $15.02 to $30.15 per hour. Under the University's contract offer these wage rates would increase to between $16.00 and $34.63 per hour.
McMaster continues to pay higher than market rates for cleaning and custodial employees.
SEIU Local 2 represents operations and maintenance workers, skilled trades and cleaners and custodians at McMaster. They are in a legal strike position and have set 1:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 13 as the strike deadline. No bargaining has been scheduled but the University is willing to resume negotiations upon request.
The University will remain open if there is a strike. A contingency planning group has been meeting for a number of weeks to ensure that health and safety on campus is maintained. Picket lines could delay traffic getting into and out of campus and should a strike occur, everyone is asked to leave themselves extra time to get to work and classes. Updates will also be available on the Daily News.
October 6, 2010
SEIU Local 2 has called a meeting for Thursday, Oct. 7 for members to vote on the University's contract offer. The meeting begins at 6:00 p.m. in the East Auxiliary Gymnasium on the lower level of the Ivor Wynne Centre. The union represents operations and maintenance workers, skilled trades and cleaners and custodians at McMaster.
Hourly wage rates for members of the bargaining unit now range between $15.02 and $30.15 per hour, depending on job classification. By the end of the proposed five-year contract, that range would increase to between $16.00 and $34.63 per hour, should the membership accept the offer. The University's offer contains no wage cuts for employees.
In addition to these increases, all members of the bargaining unit will receive lump sum payments that vary according to job classification.
More information, including details about proposed changes to benefits and pension contribution rates, can be found here.
The University is encouraging all bargaining unit members to attend the meeting and to participate in the vote. The union has informed the University that the earliest possible strike date is Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 10:00 p.m.
Should the majority of bargaining unit members at the meeting vote to accept the offer, there would not be a strike.
October 5, 2010
The University and SEIU Local 2 are making progress as they continue to negotiate a new collective agreement.
The union is delaying its strike date, notifying the University the earliest possible strike date is Tuesday, Oct. 12 at 10:00 p.m.
SEIU Local 2 represents operations and maintenance workers, skilled trades and cleaners and custodians at McMaster. Talks on a new collective agreement began Sept. 20. The union is in a legal strike position.
October 2, 2010
The University and SEIU Local 2 continue negotiations on a new contract. The union has now given the University written notice that the earliest possible strike date is Wednesday, October 6 at 10:00 p.m. Pickets will not be formed prior to that date and time.
Both parties continue to meet with a goal of reaching a new agreement. SEIU Local 2 represents operations and maintenance employees, skilled trades and custodians and cleaners at McMaster.
The Daily News http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/ will continue to be updated as information becomes available.
October 1, 2010 - 11:45 a.m.
The University and SEIU Local 2 are continuing negotiations Friday on a new collective agreement. SEIU Local 2 represents operations and maintenance, skilled trades and cleaners and custodians at McMaster.
The union is now in a legal strike position. The University expects the union to provide advance notice should it decide to call a strike.
Over the weekend, you can continue to check the Daily News for updated information. The University's Labour Relations website is http://www.mcmaster.ca/opr/labour_relations/
Sept. 30, 2010
Dear members of the McMaster community,
McMaster and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 2) have been bargaining since September 20 to reach a new collective agreement. While about half of the contract has been settled, the remaining monetary issues are very challenging.
Employees who belong to SEIU are important members of the University community and provide key services. SEIU Local 2 represents skilled trades, maintenance and operations, custodial and cleaning staff at McMaster. The union’s current contract expires on September 30. While we remain focused on negotiating a contract, a No Board Report has been issued setting this Friday, October 1 as the earliest date for a legal strike. The University expects the union to provide advance notice of a strike.
In many circumstances we would have provided information to our campus community earlier in the process, but the particularly difficult nature of these negotiations meant earlier communications would not be helpful to the bargaining process.
Negotiations are continuing Thursday with the assistance of the provincial mediator. While we hope a deal will be reached, it is possible that the union will decide to begin a strike and establish picket lines. Picketing activity will cause delays getting onto campus and we ask that everyone be patient and respectful during any picketing activity.
A contingency planning group has been working to ensure that the University is able to maintain operations and the health and safety of everyone on campus in the event of any labour disruptions. Contingency information is available to students, faculty and staff through the Daily News web site’s Labour Relations link. We ask that everyone on campus stay informed.Sincerely,
Roger Couldrey
Vice-president, Administration
Key Issues and Updates
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Getting in and out of campus
Purchasing, deliveries and mail services
Food services
Employee FAQ
Map - HSR detour routes in the event of a strike
Safety and Security
Ensuring the community’s safety and security is of primary importance. Should you feel unsafe or notice something that could cause a safety concern, please notify McMaster security by dialing “88” from any University line or by calling 905-525-9140 (24281).
Other Information
McMaster Faculty and Staff Directory
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