Daily News

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

March 2, 2001

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March 2, 2001

Talks between the University and MUSA took place until 5:45 a.m. this morning (March 2). The MUSA bargaining team delivered a monetary demand to the University's team at approximately 2:00 a.m. Both teams have agreed to return to the table at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 3. "We now have a complete proposal including a wage demand," says Mark Haley, assistant vice-president of human resources and a member of the University's bargaining team. "The wage demand is very expensive but we continue to be committed to achieving a collective agreement ." The University tabled a response to MUSA's monetary demand. MUSA has called its members out on strike as of 6:00 a.m. today. (END OF STORY) See also: Notice to Students: In the Event of a MUSA Strike and Notice to Students Living in Residence:In the Event of a MUSA Strike and Two information hotlines available during strike

March 1, 2001

Members of the University and MUSA bargaining teams are back at the table with the mediator this afternoon. The parties met until early this morning and agreed to resume talks at one o'clock today. The teams continue to work on many issues including a response from MUSA on a monetary offer presented by the University in December. Last night members of McMaster's University Staff Association voted in favour of a strike. A total of 1,387 of MUSA's 1,650 members voted. Almost 71 per cent of those who cast ballots voted yes, 29 per cent voted no. See also: NEW March 1! MUSA Strike Vote Results (END OF STORY)

March 1, 2001

McMaster's 1,650 support staff will be on strike as of 6 a.m. tomorrow if no "real progress in negotiations" is made by 2 a.m. on Friday, March 2. The strike action was communicated to MUSA members in an e-mail sent to them (by the MUSA bargaining team) just after 1 p.m. today (March 1). "The MUSA team is concerned that if no real progress is made by 2 a.m. (Friday, March 2), then we will be asking our membership to take job action. Members should consider that, unless they hear otherwise, MUSA will be on strike as of 6 a.m. on Friday, March 2." The MUSA bargaining team announced their strike action at a meeting with the University team this afternoon. "We're extremely disappointed with MUSA's decision to take this course of action. We came to the table this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. to bargain and now know that the union had both informed their membership and intended to inform the media at 2 o'clock that they planned to go on strike," says Mark Haley, assistant vice-president human resources and a member of the University's bargaining team. "We know that there are a number of tough issues on the table, but we have worked hard and we remain committed to continuing to work hard to reach a collective agreement." Haley is concerned that a number of issues still remain unresolved, but he is particularly disturbed that the union would ask its members to strike when it hasn't presented either its membership or its employer with a wage demand. "Solutions cannot be found on the picket line. These are issues that need to be resolved at the table and MUSA is simply refusing to do this." McMaster's initial monetary offer to MUSA was a 10 per cent increase over four years. To date, MUSA has not indicated how much of an increase it is seeking for its members. The University has contingency plans in place for a strike. "We have based our planning on four principles which will guide our provision of services and operations: the health and safety of all members of the McMaster community, the education and support of students, the delivery of health care and the continuation of core communications infrastructure," says Peter Sutherland, co-chair of the University's Contingency Planning Group. "Ensuring the health and security of all University employees and visitors to campus is paramount." Classes will continue and many services currently available to students will continue to operate, although hours of service may be modified. The McMaster University Staff Association represents research nurses, clerical and secretarial staff, library assistants, laboratory technicians and student counsellors. The association was certified last year and has been negotiating its first collective agreement with the University for almost a year.

March 1, 2001

MUSA and the University came to terms tonight (March 1) on a list of accommodated positions. This means that MUSA has agreed that some of its members may provide service during a strike. The positions and areas are listed below in the text of a document signed by MUSA and the University.

March 1, 2001

The bargaining teams for McMaster and the McMaster University Staff Association met on Saturday afternoon (March 3). "We had an opportunity to discuss some compensation issues and agreed to meet again on Sunday morning," says Roberta Shaw, a member of the University's bargaining team. The University also offered to extend the time MUSA has to decide whether it wishes to pay to maintain benefits for its members. Shaw says, "The University had originally asked MUSA to decide by noon on Friday. We've now extended that by 48 hours." Benefits are a part of an employee's normal compensation package. The University has offered MUSA the option of paying the cost of the benefit plan for its members during the strike. The cost is approximately $260,000 per month. This decision can only be made by MUSA. People trying to get to campus on Saturday once again faced delays because of picket lines.

February 28, 2001

Members of McMaster's University Staff Association have voted in favour of a strike to back their bargaining team in its negotiations with the University. The results, which were made available last night (Feb. 28), indicated that almost 71% of those who cast ballots voted yes, 29% voted no. A total of 1,387 MUSA members voted. Total MUSA membership is 1,650 which means 59.5% of its members voted in favour of strike action. The University and MUSA returned to the bargaining table late last night. Discussions continued through the early morning. University bargaining team member Dave Tucker says, "We will be at the table whenever MUSA wants to talk and we will stay at the table until we have a deal or until the union walks away again." The University team is committed to achieving a first collective agreement. In a letter sent to MUSA president Barry Diacon, Mark Haley, assistant vice-president human resources and a member of the University's bargaining team, says the University "would work very hard with MUSA to attempt to resolve all of the outstanding issues in dispute in an effort to reach a collective agreement and avoid a strike." The letter also outlines the University's position with respect to the provision of salaries, benefits, etc., in the event of a strike. A second letter to Diacon spells out the University's commitment to the health and safety of all University employees and visitors. To view the two letters, click here. In an open letter to students, to be published in Thursday's Silhouette, University President Peter George asks for students' patience, good judgment and goodwill in the event of a strike. He also says that everyone at McMaster will work to ensure that the students' academic year is not put at risk. "We all recognize the importance of your education and the need to complete your year as scheduled and will do everything in our power to achieve this goal." To view the open letter, click here. See also: MUSA answers members' questions about strike vote (END OF STORY)

February 28, 2001

Classes will continue at McMaster and most services provided to students will be available in the event of a strike by the 1,700 members of . . .