Members of CUPE Local 2950 voted yesterday to ratify last week's tentative collective agreement that covers its 1,500 clerical, hospital and library workers at the University of British Columbia.
The deal, which was signed October 10, includes the following:
- no wage increases for the first two years (retroactive to 2010 and 2011) under the province’s Net Zero Mandate;
- a 2% wage increase retroactive to April 1, 2012;
- a 2% wage increase on April 1, 2013; and
- for workers at the Chan Centre only, a 2.25% increase (in place of the 2% increase for other workers) to bring their wages more in line with “industry standards.”
“This is the best deal we feel we could get, given the amount of political interference from Victoria,” said Nancy Forhan, president of CUPE 2950, adding she is relieved the deal has been ratified.
Other terms include granting members the right to work past age 65, the inclusion of an employment insurance rebate and clarification on the status of temporary workers.
The deal still needs to be ratified by their employer, which is expected to happen on Monday.
This is the first agreement reached between CUPE workers at universities in B.C.
Meanwhile, members of CUPE Local 3338 stated yesterday they will set up picket lines today at SFU’s downtown campus, saying approximately 70 CUPE members will walk off the job from their positions at SFU Harbour Centre and SFU Woodward’s.
John Banister, business agent for CUPE 3338, said, “With inflation, our members are actually falling behind in real terms, unlike top SFU administers who have been enjoying substantial annual increases while refusing to negotiate with us.
“At this point we feel we have no alternative but to escalate our job action.”
