MUNACA rejects contract offer

Money remains the outstanding issue

The McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA) voted late last week to reject the University’s latest offer in continuing bargaining toward a new contract and voted in favour of adopting pressure tactics up to and including a strike.

The union, which represents approximately 1,700 support staff who provide

service to teaching staff and students in the University’s libraries, classrooms, laboratories and offices, held a demonstration at the Roddick gates on Wednesday, Dec. 10, as a show of support.

The sticking point in the dispute is wages. The University is offering a three-year contract that would cover the period between Dec. 1, 2007, and Nov. 30, 2010, during which salaries would increase by 2.5 per cent as at Dec. 1, 2007, 3 per cent as at Dec. 1, 2008,  and 3 per cent as at Dec. 1, 2009, for a compounded increase of 8.74 per cent. The University is also offering a signing bonus. The union is seeking 10 per cent over the same period. Both sides continue to work with a conciliator in an effort to reach a settlement.

In a statement issued last Friday, François Roy, McGill’s Vice-Principal (Administration and Finance), said the university would remain open in the event of a work stoppage.

“McGill will take all the steps it can to minimize any disruption this may cause and to assure the smooth running of the University,” he said. “Naturally, McGill hopes that whatever disruptions occur will be brief and that we will be able to reach a settlement with MUNACA shortly.”

In a news release issued following the votes that showed about 68 and 65 per cent support, respectively, for rejecting the offer and adopting pressure tactics up to and including a strike, MUNACA President Maria Ruocco said the vote “proves that our members are united and that they have no intention of backing down, given the University’s uncompromising attitude.”

For updates on the situation, more information is available at the Human Resources web page at http://www.mcgill.ca/hr/. Other questions regarding the functioning of the university during a labour disruption can be emailed labour.info@mcgill.ca.