In March 2010, 8 of the 10 locals that make up CUPE’s Universities Coordinated Bargaining Committee (UCBC) served notice to bargain. The other two followed shortly thereafter.

The UCBC meets regularly to remain coordinated, share progress, and monitor the status of bargaining in other education sectors and provincial unions.

BURNABY—The members of CUPE 3338-5 that work for the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) have ratified a new agreement. The agreement was reached on Friday October 7, 2011 with the assistance of a mediator. Now that both parties have voted in favour of ratification, the lockout is over and staff are back at work. The lockout began on July 10, 2011.

The new three-year agreement protects the wages and job security of all current staff and includes a 1 per cent increase in the third year.

BURNABY—A group of SFU students began an occupation of the Simon Fraser Student Society’s offices today to protest the 79-day lockout of CUPE workers. Organized independently by a group of students, the sit-in is an act of civil disobedience to help put pressure on the Board of Directors to end the lockout.

BURNABY—Today marks day 78 of the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) lockout at SFU. It is also the day the SFU community learned that the SFSS Board of Directors quietly voted to double their compensation with the money saved by locking out their own staff.

SURREY – An expanded picket line by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, as part of the ongoing labour dispute with the Simon Fraser Student Society, is up at SFU Surrey (SFU Surrey Mezzanine, 250-13450 102 Avenue), starting at 830am today. CUPE is asking students, staff, and faculty to respect the picket lines and refuse to cross them. Check Twitter @CUPEsfu and #SFUlockout for updates.

Background

For 74 days, the CUPE Local 3338 members that work for SFU’s student society have been locked out by their employer.

BURNABY—CUPE hosted a rally yesterday, attended by hundreds of people to support the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) staff, members of CUPE Local 3338. The staff have been locked out by their employer since July 10.

The rally brought together students, supporters and CUPE members from across the Lower Mainland.

BURNABY—On Tuesday September 13, CUPE BC is hosting a rally and free BBQ to support the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) staff who have been locked out by their employer since July 10. Throughout the lockout, the SFSS Board of Directors has encouraged students to cross picket lines and they have disrespected our members by selling off the “saved wages” (their wages), as free beer and pancakes. The employer’s last-minute proposal, on the eve of the Labour Day long weekend, was an unjust attempt to reduce wages by up to 40 per cent and cut permanent staff positions.

BURNABY—In a last-minute effort to end its ongoing labour dispute, the Simon Fraser Student Society proposed a deal that would grandfather the wages of current staff, but would gut their employees’ collective agreement with pay reductions of up to 40% for future employees. That means $13 per hour for some employees, well below the region’s living wage.  In addition, the Board of Directors made it clear that they want to reduce the number of permanent staff positions.

The proposal also included a signing bonus for each member.

BURNABY—Since the lockout began on Sunday, July 10, the Simon Fraser Student Society Board of Directors has been busy trying to encourage students to cross pickets lines, do union work and sell off the “saved wages” as free booze and pancakes. CUPE members need to mobilize and tell these student politicians to end their ideological lockout. Read CUPE’s original release.

For more information:

Lockout ended Oct.

BURNABY—As the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) lockout of CUPE Local 3338 staff entered its eighth week, CUPE BC president Barry O’Neill announced a donation of $13,000 to the 15 members who have gone without paycheques since the lockout began on July 10.

“The misguided and ideological politicians running the show at the Simon Fraser Student Society tried to break our members by squeezing them financially during summer, the slowest time on campus,” said O’Neill. “But they clearly underestimated the resolve, courage and commitment of our members to stand up for what is right.