Negotiations are at a crucial stage between Local 1393 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 1393) and the University of Windsor administration, with the sides being in a legal lockout/strike position at 12:01 a.m., Sunday, September 8.
“We owe it to students, our neighbours and the many alumni taking part in 50th Anniversary events in the coming weeks and months to sit down and negotiate a collective agreement that is both fair to all parties and protects quality, post-secondary education,” said Dean Roy, President of CUPE 1393.
CUPE 1393 is a proud ‘Gold Sponsor’ of the University of Windsor’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations, which coincide with CUPE’s own 50th Anniversary.
“We’re prepared to negotiate for as long as it takes, but our energies need to turn to hosting a successful event and ensuring a successful academic year for the students who have made an investment in this community and in their futures,” he added.
CUPE Local 1393 represents nearly 300 skilled trades, professional, and technical employees at the University of Windsor, providing a wide range of services crucial to the university community, from plumbing and carpentry to nursing and therapy, graphic design and public relations.
The union is seeking modest improvements to wages and to maintain existing job security and job evaluation provisions.
Roy said too much is at stake to risk a disruption in services.
“Our members certainly don’t want to go on strike, and we certainly don’t want to be locked out. That’s why our bargaining committee is willing to roll up our sleeves to get the job of negotiating a fair agreement done. As long as a partner willing to negotiate is sitting across the table, we’ll stay as long as it takes,” he said.
CUPE Local 1393’s bargaining committee will meet university negotiators today and tomorrow with the assistance of a provincial mediation officer.
“We have a few outstanding issues remaining, and we are willing to continue to sit down and negotiate an agreement; I’m confident one can be hammered out in the time available to us,” said Roy.
For more information, please contact:
Dean Roy, CUPE 1393 President, 226-247-1063
Kevin Wilson, CUPE Communications, 416-821-6641