EC Bargaining Update
December 15, 2011
In spite of attempts by CAPE to come to a negotiated settlement, Treasury Board set conditions at the bargaining table that made it impossible to truly negotiate. When the Association provided, as it has done successfully in the past, counter proposals to the employer’s proposals they were not accepted. In nine days the employer said “yes” twice, but only to minor editorial changes proposed by CAPE. Finally, on December 13 CAPE’s pay proposal was rejected in its entirety. Faced with the lack of movement from the employer at the table and with a clear message from the employer that issues important to the EC community would not be addressed at the bargaining table, the EC bargaining team had no choice but to conclude that the only way to a new collective agreement would be through the intervention of the Public Service Labour Relations Board. The impasse has been referred to the Board for arbitration. The EC bargaining team made it clear at the table that it was prepared to listen to the employer and to address employer concerns through changes to the collective agreement. The employer made it clear that it was not prepared to address the concerns of the EC community.
December 15, 2011
In spite of attempts by CAPE to come to a negotiated settlement, Treasury Board set conditions at the bargaining table that made it impossible to truly negotiate. When the Association provided, as it has done successfully in the past, counter proposals to the employer’s proposals they were not accepted. In nine days the employer said “yes” twice, but only to minor editorial changes proposed by CAPE. Finally, on December 13 CAPE’s pay proposal was rejected in its entirety. Faced with the lack of movement from the employer at the table and with a clear message from the employer that issues important to the EC community would not be addressed at the bargaining table, the EC bargaining team had no choice but to conclude that the only way to a new collective agreement would be through the intervention of the Public Service Labour Relations Board. The impasse has been referred to the Board for arbitration. The EC bargaining team made it clear at the table that it was prepared to listen to the employer and to address employer concerns through changes to the collective agreement. The employer made it clear that it was not prepared to address the concerns of the EC community.