OTTAWA, Ont. – Professional, office, technical and support staff at Carleton University, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), will be in a legal strike or lockout position September 5th, at 12:01 am, after the university failed to make a fair settlement offer during conciliation talks.
“We have been trying to reach a negotiated settlement to avoid a disruption as fall classes resume,” said CUPE national representative Susan Arab. “Unfortunately, Carleton administration has failed to move towards a fair settlement, refusing so far to make a contract offer similar to what faculty negotiated with the university earlier this year.” CUPE 2424 represents 700 workers at Carleton, who’ve been working without a contract since June 30, 2007.
“All it takes is a fair deal to prevent a strike,” said Arab. “We will do everything we can to achieve a settlement in mediation, but it really depends on a change of attitude from management.” In addition to wages, outstanding issues include benefits, job postings and employment security. A strike or lockout would suspend all office work at the university, IT support, libraries and other technical and support functions. Mediation talks have been scheduled for August 30, and September 3 and 4.
“We would prefer a negotiated settlement, but the administration’s approach to negotiations so far indicates that we must begin strike preparations,” said Arab. “We call on students and the university community to contact Carleton’s administration to urge them to make a fair contract offer and prevent a strike so classes can resume without a disruption this fall.”
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For further information, please contact:
Susan Arab, CUPE National Representative: 613-237-0115, 613-769-7553
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications: 416-292-3999