Daily News

posted on March 8: Picketing now extended to 24 hours a day

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)

posted on March 8: MUSA decides not to continue benefits for striking members

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.

posted on March 7: Hours of work a key consideration in contract talks

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."

MUSA monetary demand called unrealistic

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)