The CUPE 4400 Negotiating Committee has reviewed our bargaining position over the past two days and has prepared a revised bargaining proposal to present to the Board in the hope of moving talks forward.
The highlight of our revised proposal is movement on Job Security. We have removed our demands for improvements to the 1999 job security language.
The union is prepared to return to the 1999 contract language on job security: the 1999 language includes restrictions on contracting out, restrictions on layoffs and restrictions on the use of volunteers.
When CUPE 4400 members went on strike in the winter of 1999, we won important job security protection. Although we have sought some improvements to job security in this round of talks, our main goal has been to protect what we won in 1999.
Wed like to do better on job security, but at this stage weve decided to drop demands for improvements. Our position now demands nothing new from the employer on job security.
The mediator identified two main areas of dispute - wages and job security. By saying today that we want to return to the 1999 language on job security, we are putting the ball in the employers court.
If they say YES, and agree to return to the 1999 language, talks will progress.
If they say NO to the 1999 language, there will be no ambiguity whatsoever about whos to blame for this mess.
By agreeing to return to the 1999 job security language, the union is taking an important step towards settlement.
CUPE 4400 calls on the Toronto District School Board to return to the bargaining table immediately.