VICTORIA—CUPE support workers at Royal Roads University have reached a new tentative agreement. The no-concessions, four-year deal must still be ratified by the members of CUPE 3886 and by the university administration.
Highlights of the agreement:
- Four-year term retroactive to June 1, 2010 and in place until May 31, 2014.
- No wage increases in the first two years, in keeping with the provincial government’s Net Zero mandate imposed on public sector workers.
- 2% increases in the final two years effective June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013.
- Improvements to contract language on overtime rates, vacation and sick leave reporting and probationary periods for new employees.
- Stronger anti-discrimination and anti-harassment language.
CUPE 3886 president Paul Allison says the union “is relieved that after more than two years of bargaining under difficult circumstances we finally have a tentative agreement. Through that difficult bargaining process we have built solidarity amongst our members and strengthened our relationship with our students, with other local unions and with the Royal Roads University Faculty Association.”
Talks were hampered by provincial government mandates prohibiting wage hikes and insisting on approvals over collective bargaining. The union voted 96 percent in favour of strike action three weeks ago.
The 62 members of CUPE Local 3886 include gardeners, trades people, maintenance and custodial workers.
