Daily News

posted on Feb. 26: Just in! MUSA to hold strike vote as soon as possible

The University bargaining team learned at approximately 9:15 this morning that the McMaster University Staff Association will hold a strike vote as soon as possible. University bargaining team member Dave Tucker says they were advised by the MUSA negotiating committee that "a single vote for the purpose of authorizing a strike would be held as soon as possible." MUSA has requested the University's assistance in conducting the vote and in getting polling information out to members. The strike vote is not scheduled for today or tomorrow. Tucker says the union's bargaining team advised them that the employer's proposals "were not reasonable," and they were unable to proceed (with negotiations). The union's team informed the University it saw no way around the impasse. Postscript: See also: Notice to Readers: Further Explanation of Monetary Proposal

posted on Feb. 23: University, MUSA talks continue

The University and the McMaster University Staff Association were back at the bargaining table again last night (Thursday, Feb. 22). Both sides agreed to suspend talks at about 2 a.m. and will return at 2 p.m. this afternoon. "The latest session was encouraging," says Roberta Shaw, a member of the University's bargaining team. "We were able to discuss key issues including seniority, how people are hired, priority placement and recall procedures." However, Shaw says the University's team is disappointed that there still have been no talks about money. "We need to discuss how people get paid and how much they get paid. The union is not prepared to do that and although we're hopeful that a collective agreement can be reached before the union's deadline of Feb. 27, it will be impossible to reach a deal if the union doesn't put its financial demands on the table." MUSA has received the letter it requested from the University extending the freeze period past Feb. 27. It assures the association that negotiations can go beyond that date with the confidence that working conditions will not be altered until a collective agreement comes into effect or until a strike or lockout commences. See also: MUSA answers questions about negotiations in e-mail to members (END OF STORY)

posted on Feb. 23: University and MUSA bargain throughout the night

The University and the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) returned to the table yesterday afternoon (Feb. 21) and bargained throughout the night with the last session running from 3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. "I think last night was the most productive session we've had," said Dave Tucker, a member of the University's bargaining team. "People on both sides of the table were listening, being thoughtful and negotiating." MUSA asked the University for an extension of the freeze period past Feb. 27, which is when the union is in a position to call a strike provided a strike vote has been taken with the membership. The freeze period means that working conditions may not be altered and that current conditions will remain in effect until a collective agreement comes into effect or until a strike or lockout commences. "We have absolutely no difficulty in giving MUSA a letter which states that the freeze remains in effect and the signed letter of agreement will be in their offices this morning," said Mark Haley, assistant vice-president human resources and a member of the bargaining team. "In return, the University asked MUSA for a minimum of 24-hours notice if a strike was to be called but they were unwilling to give us that notice period." Issues discussed last evening include seniority, layoff and recall, appointments and promotions and the University's team delivered a number of proposals on these issues to MUSA. The MUSA team will be considering them today and both teams will return to the table this evening. "We are encouraged by the discussions we had and look forward to this evening's session," said Dave Tucker. "We are also hoping that MUSA will table their monetary proposal this evening because, without knowing about their monetary needs for basic rates of pay, it will become increasingly difficult to discuss other issues that have a monetary component." Editor's note: MUSA president Barry Diacon and negotiating team chair Ron Lodewyks have both been contacted for a comment for this story. (END OF STORY)