In recent negotiations with SEU (facilities management/residences/Faculty Club), separating food and dining and residences has been the major topic of discussion. An agreement in principle has been drafted and is currently being reviewed.
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SEU trades and powerhouse on both campuses have just started the bargaining process. Three bargaining sessions have taken place to date with the article on grievances and arbitration procedures already resolved. The parties have agreed to a shared communications approach throughout the bargaining process, as is the case with the three other bargaining units of SEU currently under way.
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AGSEM course lecturers/instructors have moved to break away from AGSEM to form their own union, affiliated with the Fédération nationale des enseignants du Québec, a unit of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux. The union filed its official request with the Labour Relations Board and notified the university, asking the Board to transfer the certificate of accreditation to the newly created union. A decision has to come from the Board before the process of forming a new union is complete. This motion should not change the bargaining process under way.
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The university and AGSEM course lecturers/instructors are still in negotiations. The union has asked the Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator to facilitate the bargaining process. Course lecturers are negotiating their first collective agreement. The first meeting with the conciliator was held on October 28.