Click here to read a copy of the letter we sent in response to a donation given to us by the Surrey Teacher’s Association.

Also, you can see a copy of the original letter here.

- CUPE 2278 Exec

CUPE Local 2278 has been bargaining for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) since August 2010. Upon termination of a 5 year long agreement (2005-2010) there were many issues the union was eager to canvass with the employer concerning the working conditions and compensation levels of TAs at the UBC Vancouver campus. Over the duration of the previous contract we tracked challenges in the employment relations faced by TAs at UBC.  Through this process we identified general challenges faced by most of our members such as the need for more adequate office space, short unpaid leaves for thesis preparation and comprehensive and dissertation examinations. The right to be free from academic harassment was identified as a critical shortcoming on the part of the Employer which the Union had attempted to correct for years.  The need for extended rehiring preference for teaching assistants that more accurately reflects the time it takes graduate students to complete their programs was more than obvious.

We also identified vulnerable sectors within our membership (such as international students and parents) and tabled proposals meant to protect them against the specific hardships they face as students and employees of UBC.  Broadly, we observed that increasing tuition costs and increases in the cost of living over the years had positioned many of our members in difficult financial predicaments, impeding their ability to pursue academic success while maintaining a modest standard of living.

Our bargaining proposals, while certainly unable to remedy all of our members’ challenges, were meant to alleviate some of the hardships they face in their lives as employees and students at UBC.

 Non-Monetary

Until February 2012 collective agreement negotiations were primarily limited to discussions on language (i.e., non-monetary items). While at the commencement of bargaining the Union indicated its intent to discuss monetary items with UBC, the employer indicated there would be no money on the table for TAs given the Province’s “net-zero” mandate. The premise of the “net-zero” mandate is that during these difficult economic times, the Province would allocate no money for increases in compensation to public employees. As UBC is a public institution the Union understood this to mean that no one at UBC would receive increases in their compensation packages.

The Union understood that no public sector employee would receive a pay increase during the “net-zero” Government mandate including University employees.  We accepted that, with no dispute, and concentrated on bargaining improvements in the areas of language.  However, the Employer added something significantly different to this Government mandate.  The Employer stated that the University was in serious financial difficulty. We were told there was a 32 million dollar deficit and although this wasn’t a “sky is falling” explanation there were going to be administrative and faculty cuts in the 2-3% range.

We were told this was a period of “belt-tightening”.

The Employer stated that even if the “net-zero” mandate didn’t exist, CUPE 2278 members would not get a pay increase as the University couldn’t afford it.  In other words, we were told at the table that the Government Mandate was only one consideration and that the University’s financial situation would not have allowed a pay increase for TAs.  We were negotiating with a no change or improvement agenda.

As responsible members of the University community, we were collectively fine with that.  In other words, we bought into the idea of a responsible membership in the University Community.

Winter 2012

Given this understanding of the financial difficulties under which UBC was supposedly operating, the Union was grossly disappointed to discover that the University still felt compelled to pay increases to certain classes of employees at UBC.   In January, the Union learned that employees at UBC earning over $75,000 in both 2010 and 2011 received an increase in compensation package of 2.92%.

Discovering this socio-economic reality at UBC that positions the more vulnerable workers at UBC (TAs and other workers) to accept zeros while the wealthier members of the UBC campus receive increases in compensation, the Union was also further disappointed that the employer refused to extend rehiring preference for TAs.

The University’s position on refusing to extend preference or job security is particularly disturbing given that their own reports indicate it takes much longer to complete graduate degrees than is commonly acknowledged.   The University’s unwillingness to commit to providing employment security comesurate with completion times is particularly galling.

Because the net-zero mandate ends in August 2012 the Union was excited at the prospect of beginning to discuss our monetary proposals on behalf of our members.  The Province’s mandate for 2012-14 is not “net zero,” but rather “cooperative gains”; under this new mandate, UBC would be able to offer monetary improvements to CUPE 2278’s CBA.

The Union was confused and disappointed when the employer expressed surprise at our monetary proposals given that we tabled our proposal in relation to what TAs at other Universities already enjoyed or sought what we considered reasonable improvements as an opening to monetary discussion. Since that time, we have had limited if any discussion about our proposals as we have been told that the University has yet to secure its new mandate from the Provincial Government.

To be clear:  the employer has not presented a four-year monetary package at the table. Similarly, our monetary proposals were a starting point for negotiations – negotiations have not ended because of an unwillingness to negotiate on the part of the Union but rather because the Employer has yet to table an offer which they said they were preparing.

Given this lack of position on the part of the Employer, the Union was genuinely surprised that the Employer would file for mediation. To suggest that the Union and Employer are far apart in negotiating monetary items is odd as we haven’t been presented with a counter to our proposals.

Indeed, the Union is perplexed by the Employer’s calculations of 130% increase to our monetary proposals given that they have not provided any explanation or breakdown of our monetary items. Similarly, the Employer is well aware that the Union’s monetary package was a starting point for negotiations; it is not that the Union refuses to budge on its monetary proposals but rather that the Employer has yet to table a four-year monetary package that would open a negotiating dialogue between the Union and the Employer.

On 22 March 2012, the Union took a Strike Vote; 81% of votes cast were in favour of strike action. The Union took the Strike Vote with the aim of using a positive mandate to negotiate with the employer the best possible agreement.

The Union has been eager to engage in negotiations and is disappointed that the Employer would file for mediation without tabling a 4-year monetary proposal or formally come with a written position to the table.

The Union Leadership is enormously grateful to our members for your support in achieving a positive strike mandate. While we have yet to achieve our goals in the form of a new collective bargaining agreement that is acceptable to our membership (i.e. you) to date, your support for our bargaining position at the table will in the long-term assist us in achieving a better agreement  with you and on your behalf.

As many of our members have indicated to us – yes, we are missing the opportunity to engage in job action this term given the mediation process initiated by the Employer. Prior to that, the Union was also somewhat reluctant to go on strike given that many of our members expressed their deep concern for their students, namely their desire to see their graduating students take their exams and move forward. However, because of the institutional relationship that we have with the employer and our desire to make the most gains while causing minimal hardship to our members, we are guardedly optimistic of the mediation process and/or failing progress through mediation continuing the struggle for better working conditions and compensation for our members with renewed energy and support come the Fall.

In conclusion, a new and fair agreement for UBC TAs is what CUPE Local 2278 has been first and foremost struggling towards all this time. We continue forward with this objective as we head into mediation. Prior to engaging in strike action we want to insure that we have exhausted all other avenues for achieving a fair and respectful agreement. We had concluded it would be less harmful to our members if we waited to see the employer’s offer (an offer they said they were in the process of preparing but which we have still not seen).

Given the Employer’s recent actions the Union remains vigilant in dealing with this Employer and their unwillingness to offer a fair agreement for UBC TAs.  If the mediation process doesn’t produce an acceptable outcome, the Union will be pursuing more direct actions with its members come the Fall. We appreciate your ongoing support in this process and remain faithfully yours.

CUPE Local 2278:     Executive Committee

Bargaining Team

The forthcoming mediation legally prevents us from going on strike at this time. While we are deeply disappointed at the delay this causes, we are optimistic about the mediation process.

-Executive, CUPE Local 2278

The Union is in the process of producing and distributing the Extended Health Fund cheques.  This process takes a little time so please be patient if you don’t get your cheque right away over the next two weeks.  You might find that other people in your department receive their cheques before you receive your cheque.  This is a normal part of the process and you should not be concerned.

Please don’t inquire through e-mail to the Union Office over the next two weeks concerning the status of your cheque as the office staff will be unable to answer questions until the distribution process is complete. You will not receive a response for at least two weeks.

However, if you haven’t received your cheque by Monday, April 23rd please contact the Union through <cupe2278@interchange.ubc.ca> and write Health Cheque in the subject line.

-CUPE 2278 Exec

First and foremost, I would like to take a moment to apologize for what appears to be confusion regarding the current state of bargaining. I suspect this confusion and frustration arises at least in part from frames of view regarding the process of bargaining a new collective agreement. I’ll try to reframe the bargaining process to explain the manner in which communications regarding bargaining occur.

Bargaining is a legal process in which the Union negotiates a new legal work contract with the employer on behalf of the workers (in this case, UBC TAs). Member discussions regarding bargaining concerns need to happen in closed spaces away from the ears and eyes of the employer and the media, because we do not want the employer to know things about the Union’s bargaining strategy that would harm our ability to attain positive gains for our members at the table. Our employer reads our communications to you — for example, they have told us at the bargaining table that they regularly visit our Facebook page and read our newsletters. This makes engaging in transparent discussions with our members regarding bargaining a difficult task for the Union Executive. Our members are sprawled across workspaces on the UBC campus and beyond, which reduces most communication to electronic routes that, by their nature, are accessible to the employer.

In other words, while we certainly want to be able to engage in more direct and transparent conversations with you regarding the Union’s communications, we are limited in our ability to communicate information with you via virtual routes because we do not want to facilitate the transfer of information to our employer.

Going forward with bargaining it is useful to keep in mind that the employer benefits from a non-unified membership. Our mutual trust in each other is paramount, and we hope our minimal communication with you has not been misread. Our lack of formal correspondence is not because we do not seek to be transparent but rather because we are limited in what we can say. Unlike the employer who largely gets to enjoy private correspondence, we are forced to rely heavily on public mediums. While we at the Union would love access to all of our members’ email addresses and to be able to meet and discuss with you whenever the need arises, we are not granted that access currently nor do we have the kind of resources and money available to us that UBC does. With that said, your ongoing support towards the Union in this process is highly appreciated by the Executive. We continue to strive for better working conditions and compensation for you; we cannot thank you enough for your positive strike vote and ongoing confidence that allows us to be able to accomplish this with and on your behalf.

Warmest regards,

Geraldina Polanco
President, CUPE Local 2278

While we are not sure what ‘mediation’ will mean for our situation (which is why we are seeking legal advice), we would like to offer you some information on what mediation generally means:
http://www.ag.gov.bc.ca/dro/mediation-in-bc/index.htm
http://www.lrb.bc.ca/code/#section74

In regards to other information that members have requested, we apologize for not being able to reply sooner. The volunteer members of the exec are restricted by time, but also by what we are legally allowed to say. This puts us in the position of often having to sit on questions that might harm our bargaining position if we answer on the spot. We want to ask your understanding in this regard, but nevertheless acknowledge and apologize for the wait. We will be sending another communication out over the long weekend to speak to this in more detail.

- CUPE 2278 Exec

“Inadequate Information”

The Union’s role in bargaining is to achieve for its members the best collective agreement possible. We chose the University of Toronto as a comparator because (a) UBC compares itself academically to the University of Toronto, (b) our counterparts at the University of Toronto have been in bargaining at the same time as we, and (c) the collective agreement for TAs at the University of Toronto is in many ways superior to ours.

Dr. Klonsky asks: “Why did union leadership not provide similar information about McGill University? Why did union leadership opt to keep this information from membership”

These are independent questions. The first is answered above. The answer to the second is: we didn’t.

“Timing”

Dr. Klonsky writes: “At present UBC is hindered by stringent, unusual, and temporary BC governmental restrictions (e.g., “net-zero”). This is precisely the time when UBC has the least they are permitted to offer TAs. A strike next academic year after the “net-zero” restriction is lifted could yield far more benefits for TAs.”

This is a mistake. As we have made clear in membership meetings (which, to be fair, Dr. Klonsky is not welcome to attend, as a non-member of CUPE 2278), the provincial mandate for the years 2012-2014 is not “net zero” as it was for the years 2010-2012. We learned of the new “cooperative gains” mandate in January 2012. Under a “cooperative gains” mandate, UBC can, in fact, offer financial improvements to our collective agreement; as we have told the Employer at the table, the Union is seeking to negotiate a four year agreement (i.e., from September 2010 to August 2014). To clarify, the current contract under negotiation applies to 2010-2012 regardless of when it is settled. So, we are negotiating for terms for the 2010-2012 ‘net zero’ years regardless of when they are settled.

Dr. Klonsky asks: “Why was this issue of timing never introduced to membership for formal discussion? Why was there no discussion of pros and cons for striking now vs. after “net-zero” is lifted?”

This has, unsurprisingly, been discussed at membership meetings. Perhaps Dr. Klonsky has some other sort of “formal discussion” in mind, but we are not sure what it could be. (Again, in Dr. Klonsky’s defence, he is not a member of this union, and therefore not welcome at our membership meetings.)

“Faculty Relations”

CUPE 2278 enjoys cordial relations with the UBC Faculty Association. In the event of any job action by CUPE 2278, we would of course communicate with all of our friends on campus.

Nevertheless, it is true that we could have done more to reach out to faculty. However, our focus has been on (a) bargaining effectively for a collective agreement that best serves our members’ interests, and (b) reaching out to our members over a very short time about possible job action. Our members will always be our priority, even though in this case that may have meant that we failed to exhibit “common courtesy” to faculty.

“A Rush to Strike”

This section of Dr. Klonsky’s letter consists largely of vague accusations against the union leadership, which are correspondingly difficult to refute. Here are some of the concrete things he says:

“Other TAs told me that in an effort to ensure a positive strike vote union leadership repeatedly emphasized that a positive strike vote did not mean there would be a strike. This sentiment was also apparent in posts by TAs on the TA union Facebook page, for example: “it was heavily implied before the vote (though in a conveniently non-binding way) that there would not necessarily be a strike.””

It is a fact that a positive strike vote does not necessarily mean a strike. We have more than implied this, we have explicitly stated it, for example in the Job Action FAQ on our website. Please also refer to this article in the Ubyssey, which contains the following passage:

Lucie McNeill, director of UBC Public Affairs, said strike votes are a normal part of negotiations. “The reason why strike votes are often taken is so that the bargaining team for the union comes back with a stronger mandate to the table,” she said. “We understand that, and we respect that.”

Returning to Dr. Klonsky’s letter: “Other TAs expressed to me that union leadership went out of its way to emphasize the pay available during a strike but never explicitly mentioned that receiving strike pay requires working for the union and picketing. If you don’t picket, you don’t get strike pay. You have a doctor’s appointment and can’t make it? Too bad. You don’t come to campus on Wednesdays? Too bad.”

This is false. Here is what we have said on our Facebook page (which Dr. Klonsky can read): “In case of a strike (and, again, remember that a positive strike vote does not mean that we are on strike), a decision would have to be made on how much work is required to receive strike pay; but it would not be 20 hours! In the past, it has usually been only a few hours per week on a picket line.”

What we have said in membership meetings is that in the event of job action, we (i.e., the members of CUPE 2278) would have to decide what would be required in order to receive strike pay. At the meeting on March 21, our members heard from a past Union leader that during the 2003 strike, we required all members to do 12 hours of work per week to receive strike pay. Picketing was required only of those able to do so; other work (e.g., the administrative work associated with distributing strike pay) was found for members unable to picket.

Dr. Klonsky writes: “In short, it seems union leadership was selective and biased in the information they provided to TAs in an effort to achieve what they wanted: a positive strike vote.”

This sounds like a misleading half-truth. On the one hand, it is no secret that the union leadership advocated a positive strike vote. There is a reason we wrote a document titled “Why Vote “Yes”?“. As we explain in that document, we believe that a positive strike vote was in the best interests of our members. (It would be strange if we called a strike vote but had no opinion on what the outcome should be.) But on the other hand, Dr. Klonsky implies that we communicated irresponsibly with our members–that we deceived them into voting “yes”. Aside from responding to the few concrete points above, we can see nothing more to say than that Dr. Klonsky is mistaken.

“A Mandate?”

Dr. Klonsky writes:

In a March 22 post on the CUPE2278 blog, union leadership noted that a different UBC union, CUPE 116, received a mandate to strike. Specifically, 75% of CUPE 116 members voted, and 89% were in favor. This means that 67% of CUPE 116 members voted to strike – a true mandate. The corresponding numbers for the TA Union strike vote are quite different: only 35% of TA union members voted, and 81% were in favor. In short, 67% of CUPE 116 voted to strike compared to only 28% of TA union members.

Based on results from their respective votes, CUPE 116 leadership can be certain that an overwhelming majority of its membership support a strike, but TA union leadership cannot. It is quite possible that the majority of UBC TAs do not want to strike. Instead of acknowledging this very real possibility, and instead of acknowledging the disparities between the two votes, TA union leadership claimed a “positive strike mandate” within minutes of the vote closing. If union leadership first and foremost cared about ascertaining the consensus among its membership, the result would have given them pause. I might suggest that union leadership cared more about claiming a positive strike mandate.

Under the Labour Code, a vote of 50% + 1 is a positive strike vote, regardless of turnout. That is, under the law, a union can call for a strike only if a majority of votes were “yes” votes. Therefore, a vote of 81% “yes” is a positive strike mandate.

The turnout for CUPE 2278′s strike vote in 2012 is comparable to the turnout for our strike vote in 2003, which did lead to legal job action. This is despite the significantly shorter time we have had to promote, advertise, and discuss potential job action, due to the government’s mandate being released in January of this year.

It is also worth pointing out that we do not have the same access to our own members that CUPE 116 has. The Employer does not provide us with our members’ email addresses. We make every effort we can to reach as many of our members as possible, but we still fall short of the reach we would like to have. (Incidentally, the Employer has agreed at the bargaining table to provide the Union with our members’ email addresses.)

In closing, let us speak to the reasons why we removed Dr. Klonsky’s letter from our Facebook page. It was not because we seek to suppress his ideas. It was not because his views differ from ours. It was not because we did not want to have to respond to him. Though our Facebook page is open to the public, it is provided as a space for our members to discuss matters related to the Union. To this end, take the following as an extreme example: if an outside member of the media were to post a “Why Vote ‘No’?” document on our Facebook page in advance of the strike vote, we would have removed it. Dr. Klonsky’s letter was not quite such a clear-cut case, but, as we have explained above, his letter contained several factual errors, misleading half-truths, and vague accusations against the union leadership—and Dr. Klonsky is not a member of this union, which, in our opinion, reduces our obligation to host his writing in our space. We are pleased that he has found an alternative space to post his letter, so that we can respond to it without even slightly endorsing it by hosting it on our Facebook page.

-CUPE 2278 Exec

There are two dates scheduled at this time:

Wednesday Apr. 4 @ 5 PM

Thursday Apr. 5 @ 2 PM

Location will be determined, but it will be on campus. Please email pres2278@interchange.ubc.ca if you would like to help out. Please let us know before 10 AM Wednesday morning if you plan on attending either session.

These workshops are NOT mandatory. Please get in touch if you feel like getting more involved as we prepare for the possibility of job action.

There will be an emergency meeting of the Strike Coordination Committee on Monday, April 2nd at 6:00 in the Union Office. All members of the Committee are urged to attend. We will post information on multiple picket captain workshops early next week. We will keep you posted.

#fairnessfromhere

-The CUPE 2278 Executive

We went to the table. It was acknowledged at the table that we have a positive strike vote. We have another session on Thursday. We have nothing more to report at this time. We hope to offer you more news on Thursday.

-The CUPE 2278 Exec