November 2, 2021 – The College Employer Council bargaining team has chosen to file for conciliation, and filed an unfair labour practice (ULP) complaint alleging bad-faith bargaining with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
Shortly after, they also issued a press release that states: “Though conciliation has been requested, the CEC remains ready to bargain…”. We are confused by this claim, in light of their decision to escalate earlier the same day.
We have attached a quick overview of how the faculty team has modified our proposals between August and October. This chart clearly demonstrates our significant movement from our original proposals.
Comparison of CAAT-A/Faculty Bargaining Team Proposals August to October
With that in mind, the team does look forward to the opportunity to present and discuss revised offers during the conciliation process, once the outstanding legal issues caused by the ULP have been resolved.
In the meantime, we invite you to read a new message from the Canadian Association of University Teachers, in support of our bargaining efforts and proposals, at: https://www.caut.ca/node/10785
November 5, 2021 – Both the CAAT-A and CEC bargaining teams have agreed to return to the bargaining table on Monday, November 8. We have also agreed to schedule additional bargaining days up to and including Thursday, November 11.
During this time, it has been agreed that there will be a communications blackout and the teams will not be issuing any further information until 6 p.m. on November 11 or at an earlier time if both parties agree.
We are eager to return to discussions that foster a focused, frank, and productive dialogue. We are committed to negotiating a settlement and securing labour stability for students and all members of the college community.
November 11, 2021 – The faculty team met with the CEC team today to provide initial feedback and questions in regard to the CEC’s latest proposal, which was tabled at 4:30pm yesterday in response to the faculty proposal tabled on Monday.
The faculty team also offered additional dates to continue bargaining next week, and let the CEC team know we’d have a revised offer ready for them on Monday. To be clear, the faculty team is committed to continuing to bargain, and to ensuring that faculty are kept up to date on key issues related to bargaining.
Please note the following statements of support from our faculty colleagues in the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (https://ocufa.on.ca/press-releases/ocufa-supports-college-faculty-bargaining-for-better-working-conditions/), as well as from the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (http://dialognews.ca/2021/11/11/cfs-o-to-back-college-faculty-amid-tense-labour-negotiations/).
November 12, 2021 – Last night, a province-wide meeting with over 1500 members occurred following the mutually-agreed scheduled ending of a communications blackout during this week’s negotiations between the teams. The faculty bargaining team has also proposed three additional dates for negotiations next week, and we hope to build upon the momentum of this week, which saw both teams table new offers. The team has yet to meet with or hear from the Ministry of Labour-appointed conciliator requested by the CEC team, and has not received a request from the conciliator to continue a blackout. Please see the Bargaining Update for more details.
Attached, please find our latest offer of settlement, on behalf of faculty. We have also attached a summary chart challenging some of the claims made by the CEC team in regard to our proposals. We hope you find it helpful, and will keep you updated on any developments.
Union Offer of Settlement – November 8, 2021
CEC Claims: Fact or Fiction?
November 17, 2021 – The attached document compares the current offer of each bargaining team, as we enter into the process of conciliation, starting Thursday.
Comparison of Offers
Additionally, we have offered the College Employer Council (CEC) team a blackout for those dates that we are at the bargaining table together, along with a voluntary agreement not to escalate via a no-board report or strike vote until we have exhausted attempts to reach a negotiated settlement. We have been informed that both of these suggestions have been rejected by the CEC team, so the Faculty team continues work on a counter-proposal ahead of our Thursday meeting, which is the first scheduled meeting since Nov. 11.
We look forward to continued negotiations throughout this process, assisted by the Ministry-appointed Conciliation Officer.
November 18, 2021 – Today, your faculty bargaining team returned to the bargaining table, to resume negotiations with the assistance of a Conciliation Officer appointed by the Ministry of Labour. It was the first day that we have met with the College Employer Council (CEC) bargaining team in a week, despite our offer for additional days earlier this week.
Noting how close the two sides are, and noting that there is very little room for the faculty team to compromise further, we made a formal offer to the CEC, to have both teams agree to voluntary binding arbitration to avoid escalation leading to labour disruption.
Unfortunately, we regret to inform you that our efforts to find common ground and achieve a settlement through negotiations or a mutually-agreed process were unsuccessful. Please see the Bargaining Update for more details. Attached is today’s presentation to the CEC and our current offer of settlement.
Presentation to CEC
Union Offer of Settlement
November 19, 2021 – The faculty team calls for a strike vote to protect members from effects of CEC-requested “no board” report. Please see the Bargaining Update for more details.
November 25, 2021 – The CEC is proposing “final offer selection”–a process by which means an arbitrator would be forced to choose one offer or the other in its entirety. This is different from the more common practice of “interest arbitration” (which the faculty team had explicitly offered at the bargaining table), where arbitrators select which parts of each offer they believe are the most appropriate.
Their revised (not final) offer was sent by email to the faculty team at 4:40pm on Tuesday, November 23. The CEC has proposed no further bargaining dates. We look forward to communicating more shortly, once we have had an opportunity to carefully consider the CEC’s latest proposal, as we are similarly reviewing their latest proposed Offer of Settlement. Please see the Bargaining Update for more details.
Attached, you will find a presentation that includes a comparison of the two offers — including the areas where they agree — as well as a clear infographic about what’s happening now, and what you can do to help.
Presentation for Members
Bargaining Infographic
November 26, 2021 – Online strike mandate vote to take place December 9, 10, and 11. Please see the Bargaining Update for more details.