On the afternoon of Friday, August 2, during our regular bargaining session, the YUFA Bargaining Team passed to the employer a revised offer which is "for settlement only." This means that all of our current negotiating proposals remain officially on the table unless the whole offer is accepted.
It includes most of the priority items from the different areas of our package, and some movement on monetary items (with everything kept at a comparable level to what our comparator unions are getting). The condition for all YUFA’s moves is that the Employer removes all its concessionary proposals.
A few hours later, after 6 pm, the Employer responded with a full package counter-offer of their own that unfortunately retains most of their concessionary proposals. There is almost no change: a low monetary offer (2.4% average, with a freeze in year one). They made a few withdrawal offers if YUFA agrees to withdraw some of our items.
Through the mediator, YUFA’s team has indicated our readiness to continue to bargain next week.
An email from the Employer to the Bargaining Team yesterday reminded YUFA that the Employer “may implement revised terms and conditions of employment” for YUFA members. We have no certainty at all regarding their intentions.
YUFA remains consistent: we will strike only as a last resort. If the terms and conditions of our employment are changed, the Executive is ready to respond in kind and take all appropriate actions at our disposal under the Labour Relations Act, which include but are not limited to a strike or other forms of job action, including partial strikes, work-to-rule, etc. The Executive will, of course, consult with the membership in making any such decisions.
The Bargaining Team will continue to provide regular updates to members.
TWO OTHER ITEMS:
YUFA is establishing a means to contact members independently of the York University email server in case this might be needed. You are invited to submit your personal contact information (email and phone number) using this form linked to in the August 2, YUFA-M with Subject: Bargaining Update: Conditional settlement offers exchanged (August 2, 2024, 8 pm)
Regular drop-in sessions on Wednesdays from noon to 1:00pm will continue so that members might ask questions of the Bargaining Team and Executive Committee and receive updates. The next session is Wednesday, August 7th. The Zoom link is available in the same August 2 YUFA-M referenced above.