Daily News

March 14, 2001

The University and MUSA bargaining teams reached an agreement around a picket line protocol before a motion for an injunction to limit picketing was heard in court this morning. As a result, the University has withdrawn its motion for the injunction. Under the agreement: * there will be no more than a total five-minute wait** for any vehicle getting onto campus (If a lineup of vehicles goes beyond the safety points established by police then all waiting vehicles will be allowed to enter campus at one time. For example, at the Cootes Drive entrance police will not permit traffic to overflow onto Main St.) * exceptions to the above will be made for emergency, security and medical supply vehicles, which will continue to have unimpeded access through Main Street entrance. * residence students, if they have an ID card, and it is practicable to do so, will be allowed through immediatiely. The agreement takes effect at 5 p.m. today, giving MUSA time to notify its members. The agreement is binding on everyone who is on the picket line, whether MUSA members or other supporters. The University will be monitoring very closely to ensure the agreement is enforced. It reserves the right to return to court for an injunction if the agreement is breached. The University and MUSA also appeared today at the Ontario Labour Relations Board. The pre-hearing dealt with complaints filed by both organizations. The Board decided it would not deal with the issues at this time, although either party could make a request for a hearing date. The University indicated it would not request a date. ** The first vehicle shall be released upon reaching the five minute maximum informational delay. When the first vehicle is released, the picket line shall remain open such that all vehicles which are in the line of vehicles at the time the line is opened shall proceed through immediately with unobstructed entry into the University campus, with no further communications between picketers and the persons in vehicles and no further information delay. (END OF STORY)

March 14, 2001

In a press release posted on MUSA's Web site on Tuesday, March 13, the MUSA negotiating team advises that its representatives council today approved paying strike benefits to its picketers and other volunteers. A sub-committee is working on final details, expected Thursday, the team states. According to the release, the union can make these payments because of about $1 million in donations and lines of credit from a variety of national and local unions. "We are very grateful for this support," said MUSA president Barry Diacon in the release. "Our members deserve strike pay and we hope to be able to sort it out soon." The Hamilton Spectator reported in today's issue (March 13) that Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Leah Casselman visited MUSA's picket lines yesterday and brought with her a cheque for $500,000. Diacon told the Spectator that "OPSEU's interest-free loan, combined with a $50,000 line of credit from CUPE and cash from other unions, means MUSA can now afford strike pay." (Editor's note: We are unable to provide a link to the newspaper article since it is not available online.) (END OF STORY)

March 14, 2001

More than 50 promising McMaster researchers have been awarded scholarship and fellowship funding in the 2001 competition from two key federal government funding agencies. At . . .

March 14, 2001

In conjunction with the McMaster Students Union's Annual General Meeting, the MSU will be hosting an open forum to provide information about the strike to . . .

March 14, 2001

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March 13, 2001

Five McMaster professors are among the 218 experts named to advisory boards for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research's 13 virtual institutes. The volunteer representatives, . . .

March 13, 2001

Three researchers from the Faculty of Science have come up winners in the latest round of funding awards from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). The three were awarded a total of $515,968 to be put towards infrastructure and facilities connected to their research on climate change, soft matter physics and fungal genomics and population biology.

March 12, 2001

A number of complaints from both McMaster and the University Staff Association (MUSA) will be heard at a pre-hearing at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) on Wednesday, March 14. "The University had proposed late last week that it was willing to fully withdraw its complaints if MUSA would do the same," says Mark Haley, assistant vice-president of human resources and a member of the University's bargaining team. "Withdrawing the complaints would let us focus on the negotiations to reach a collective agreement. We believe it's more important to concentrate on the negotiations." MUSA informed the University it was not willing to withdraw its complaints. In a communication to its members MUSA states, "MUSA has rejected this proposal as the Board may rule on issues that will have a significant impact on the contract talks and the relationship between the Association and McMaster. MUSA has been waiting since last July to get a hearing date. We see no benefit in not proceeding at this time." According to Haley, "The decision to go ahead to the OLRB means two lost negotiation days. We need to spend Tuesday preparing for the hearing. On Wednesday members of the University's negotiating team will be at the OLRB. We can't be in two places at once." The University hopes to return to the bargaining table on Thursday. The University will also be in a Hamilton court on Wednesday pursuing an injunction to limit picketing on campus. (END OF STORY)

March 10, 2001

Hamilton police have laid charges after a truck hit four people at the Cootes Drive entrance to McMaster on Friday. According to police, the truck driver went through the picket line, struck three people who were picketing, then struck a University security officer who tried to stop the vehilce. Fortunately all of the injuries were minor. A Hamilton man has been charged with dangerous driving and three counts of failing to remain at the scene of an accident. The University will be in court on Wednesday in an attempt to limit picketing on campus. The injunction request is partly based on public safety issues, including concern for the safety of MUSA members who are on the picket line. (END OF STORY)

March 9, 2001

Editor's note: This story was originally posted with the court injunction date of Monday, March 12. The court date has been rescheduled to Wednesday, March 14. McMaster will be in court on Wednesday, March 14 in an attempt to limit picketing on campus. "MUSA picketers have obstructed students, faculty and others who are trying to get to campus," says Karen Belaire, vice-president, administration. "Picketing is a normal part of any strike, but the delays people are experiencing getting onto campus are excessive. Our students are being particularly inconvenienced." Since picketing began a week ago drivers have been forced to wait up to three hours to get on campus. Belaire says the University's injunction request is also based on public safety issues. "There have been incidents on the picket line that have caused us concern. Frustration with the long and irregular waiting times is building. The University will act to make sure the situation on the picket line improves." The injunction request is expected to be heard in court on Wednesday morning.

March 9, 2001

The average wage increase for MUSA members between 1991 and 1999 was 18.2%. The figures provided by the University's Human Resources department contradict the union's claim that wages haven't risen since 1992. "It's disturbing that MUSA continues to say that wages have not increased," says Dave Tucker, a member of the University's bargaining team. The claim appears in the union's own information material and in numerous media reports. Tucker says, "MUSA members should consider their own experience. I'm sure that the majority of members would say that their paycheques have gone up over those years, and in many cases have gone up by quite a bit." According to Statistics Canada and Ontario government figures, the average wage settlement increase in the public sector between 1993 and 1999 totaled 4.5%. McMaster's average wage increase included increases received through promotions, transfers, job re-evaluations and pay equity changes. The administrative rules on payroll haven't changed since 1992, but that does not mean people's paycheques have not risen. "We firmly believe that MUSA members deserve a fair pay increase," says Tucker. "That's why we made an initial wage offer of 10% over four years. It's important to correct the facts around the history of wages at McMaster so that the offer is seen in its proper context." The University and the union were at the negotiating table again on Thursday (March 8) and will continue negotiations on Friday, March 9.

March 8, 2001

As the strike by support staff continues, students are wondering about the status of their classes. "The University has committed itself to doing everything possible to preserve a stable and supportive environment for students during this job action," says Mary Keyes, associate vice-president student affairs. "While each student must choose how to best handle these situations, it is strongly recommended that classes and term tests not be missed. Students should make whatever alternate arrangements possible to attend their classes." "Fewer than 50 of the more than 2,000 undergraduate lectures and labs scheduled for this term have been cancelled this week," says Fred Hall, associate vice-president academic. Bryce Rudyk, vice-president education for the McMaster Students Union, says the organization is hearing very little from students right now about the academic implications of the strike. He expects this will change if the strike continues and as students get closer to final exams. "But if you want to talk about parking we're hearing lots about that(issue)."

March 8, 2001

Picket lines at the University didn't end at dusk last night. Hamilton police notified the University late in the day that MUSA intended to picket 24 hours a day and that the Canadian Autoworkers' Union would help keep the picket line operating overnight. Delivery vehicles are the main traffic to campus overnight. That includes food service deliveries and materials for construction sites on campus including the University Centre. Mary Keyes, associate vice-president student affairs, says deliveries of supplies to residences and food service areas have been slowed since last Friday when trucks had to begin waiting in line to get onto campus. "We have notified our suppliers that picketing has now increased. To date deliveries haven't negatively impacted service levels for students but that could happen if the union decides to lengthen the delays." (END OF STORY)

March 8, 2001

MUSA has decided not to pay for the cost of benefits for its striking members. Despite repeated attempts by the University to get an answer from the union, and three extensions of the deadline for an answer, MUSA has failed to provide a cheque to the University to extend the benefits. The union decision could have meant the suspension of all benefits for striking MUSA workers. However, the University has decided that it will continue to provide benefits on a limited basis. McMaster will continue to pay for basic life insurance coverage for all employees who are members of MUSA. Optional life insurance will also be continued unless employees confirm their intention to suspend the benefit while on strike. Major medical and dental benefits will be continued for employees in accommodated positions and for those MUSA members who continue to report to work during the strike. (A more detailed explanation of the benefit situation is contained in the attached letter that was delivered to MUSA on March 7.) It is standard practice for employers to discontinue both salary and benefits during a work stoppage.

March 7, 2001

Hours of work are expected to be an important component of today's negotiations between McMaster and the McMaster University Staff Association. Talks are to resume this afternoon, with the continuing assistance of the mediator. "Overtime is a contentious issue," acknowledges Dave Tucker, a member of the University's bargaining team. "We understand that some people haven't been treated fairly in the past. We know that's true. Part of the problem is that there has been no common approach to overtime and how it's earned and compensated. We understand that these issues need to be addressed in a fair way." But Tucker is concerned that MUSA's current proposals could create new problems while fixing old ones. "The University has for many years been committed to flex time arrangements that allow employees and managers to work together to determine the hours of the work day. It's meant that if someone needs to leave early one day he or she can make up the time another day. Or if people need to work late because of a special project, or a time of peak demand in the office, they can take the time later. MUSA's proposal would put a straitjacket on flex time arrangements because all changes to the hours of the work day would need to be approved by the union in advance."

March 6, 2001

The McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) is demanding wage increases over two years that would see the salaries of many individual MUSA members climb between 20 and 40%. The union's proposed contract would expire June 30, 2001. The University's bargaining team has now had a chance to review the union's demand. It was tabled last Friday, two days after MUSA asked its members to vote for a strike and more than two-and-a-half months after the University made its initial wage offer of a 10% increase over four years. The University tabled a response to MUSA's monetary demand over the weekend. Team member Alan Harrison calls the union proposal "totally unrealistic." Provost Harvey Weingarten has been working with the University's bargaining team. He says, "The University cannot agree to a salary proposal that it can't afford. It would also be totally irresponsible for the University to even consider an agreement that would mean reopening a new round of contract negotiations this spring. We need a deal that will create a prolonged period of stability for everyone." MUSA's proposal would see the contract end in less than four months. Under MUSA's proposals salaries would increase between 20 and 40% and benefits would add an additional cost of about 20 - 30%. That would result in a total package increase of as much as 50% over the two years. "I don't know how MUSA thinks we could pay for these increases," says Weingarten. The University and the union met again Monday afternoon. Both sides have agreed to a one-day hiatus and will resume negotiating on Wednesday. (END OF STORY)

March 6, 2001

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March 5, 2001

The University wishes to advise that classes at McMaster are continuing during the strike by support staff. Many students are contacting the University to inquire about the status of lectures. Classes are being held. The following classes and/or labs have been cancelled: labour studies (classes and labs), chemistry (labs), cell biology (2B3)(labs).

March 5, 2001

About half a dozen charges have been laid against motorists for driving infractions relating to the picket lines set up at the entrances to McMaster. . . .

March 5, 2001

The University has once again extended the time MUSA has to decide if it wishes to continue benefits for its members during the strike. It is standard practise for employers to discontinue both salary and benefits during a work stoppage. The cost for MUSA to continue the benefit package is approximately $260,000 a month. The University originally requested that MUSA make its decision on this issue by Friday, March 2. That date has been extended to noon on Wednesday, March 6 (sic)*. A copy of the letter advising MUSA of this situation appears below. *Editor's note: Wednesday is March 7