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Dear Contract Instructors,
As you know, Unit 2 is currently bargaining for a new Collective Agreement. We are also in the middle of our week-long strike vote—if you haven’t already voted, please do so no later than November 30th.
Yesterday, your bargaining team completed its first full day of conciliation with a Ministry of Labour-appointed conciliator. Conciliation is a normal part of the bargaining process wherein a third-party mediator tries to help the two parties overcome impasses. Unfortunately, after a full day of bargaining with the help of a conciliator, we remain far apart on key issues:
A salary offer that keeps up with the rate of inflation and/or the average wage increases in our sector. The employer's current offer is completely out of step with our sector and unacceptable. A meaningful compensation scheme for the growing amounts of pre- and post-contract work, including deferred exams, grade appeals, and academic integrity cases. A remedy for three years’ worth of wages stolen from our members via Bill 124. Every other major union on campus other than CUPE 4600 received a remedy in 2024, and Carleton even decided to do the same for its non-union managerial staff. Job postings that contain essential information, including the anticipated day and time of courses, and anticipated TA support expressed in a way that allows instructors to prepare courses accordingly.
Furthermore, the university has levied egregious attacks on both incumbency rights and academic freedom. While we have successfully repelled the attempt to eliminate incumbency protections, we remain at odds over the employer’s newly-proposed language that makes the academic freedom protections outlined in our Collective Agreement limited by, and subservient to, any current and future university policies related to academic freedom—policies created without our input and which would undermine any Collective Agreement language on Academic Freedom. Under no circumstances will we ever agree to such bad faith proposals from the employer.
Your bargaining team has agreed to a back-to-back two-day bargaining session with the conciliator on December 11th and 12th to try to reach a compromise on outstanding issues. Should we fail to reach a tentative agreement during these sessions, and should the will of the membership as expressed in this week’s strike vote coincide with the bargaining team’s assessment of the situation, the next step will be to file a no-board report with the Ministry of Labour. This action would put us in a legal strike position early in the new year. We don’t make this suggestion lightly, and we remain hopeful that a meaningful compromise can be reached with the help of the conciliator.
In the meantime, your bargaining team needs your support to defend academic freedom and secure the wage increases and improved working conditions that we deserve. Voting “yes” vote in this week’s online strike vote is the best way to show the employer that the membership stands with the bargaining team and the proposals we’ve tabled based on the priority issues members identified. For detailed instructions on how to vote and general information about what a strike vote means, please view our website: cupe4600.ca/strike-vote.
In solidarity,
Ryan Conrad, Lead Negotiator Unit 2
Contract Instructor, FIST & IIS
On behalf of the Unit 2 Bargaining Team
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