VANCOUVER—CUPE Local 116 and UBC have reached a tentative collective agreement. The four-year deal with 0-0-2-2% wage increases was reached late Sunday night after a marathon bargaining session that started on Friday morning with CUPE 116, the university and mediator Vince Ready.
The agreement follows two weeks of escalating rotating job action by the 2,000 members of CUPE 116 that included an overtime ban, daily picket lines and the withdrawal of services around campus.
Highlights of the tentative agreement:
• No concessions
• No wage increases for the first two years under the provincial Net Zero Mandate
• 2% wage increase retroactive to April 1, 2012
• 2% wage increase on April 1, 2013
• Access to the staff pension plan for 400 more employees
The deal also includes assurances on job security and transparency around contracting out and a significant increase in funding for benefits. As well, contract language has been strengthened around health and safety, part-time staff definitions, reclassification and apprenticeships.
CUPE 116 president Colleen Garbe says, “the bargaining committee committed to achieving a fair collective agreement and that is what we feel we now have – a hard won deal that reflects and respects the resolve and dedication of 116 members. Our focus never wavered from the main issues – job security, privatization protection and wages to reflect the impact of inflation.”
The tentative agreement must still be ratified by the members of CUPE 116 and by the employer. This is the second CUPE agreement reached at UBC in this round of bargaining for contracts that expired in 2010. CUPE local 2950 reached an agreement last week and ratified it last Thursday. The third CUPE local at UBC, CUPE 2278 representing teaching assistants, tutors and sessional instructors, is still without a contract. CUPE 2278 has scheduled a strike vote for Wednesday.
CUPE 116 represents UBC trades people, technicians, bookstore staff, food services, security, parking, custodial, aquatic centre workers, clerical, housing, waste management, health and safety personnel, dental assistants, mailroom workers, computer specialists and gardeners.
