Negotiators for Saskatchewan’s two universities have rejected CUPE 1975’s proposal to send the issues in the three week old strike to mediation.
The union had proposed veteran conciliator Doug Forseth as a mediator to help resolve two outstanding issues while members would have gone back to work within two days.
The employer said ‘no’. For their part, the employer has asked the union to put their final offer to a vote among CUPE 1975’s members.
Local leaders point out that the employer offer going to their members is worse than what was on the table at conciliation.
Says Brad McKaig, chair of the CUPE 1975 bargaining committee. “At the beginning of the day, we had two outstanding issues. By the end of the day we had more than twice that. What does that tell you about our employers?”
“Once members reject the offer, we’ll be back at the bargaining table demanding a fair settlement,” McKaig says.