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E-mail by Dr. Robert McCulloch criticized by SGEU and SIAST employees for meddling improperly with the collective bargaining process.
Regina (26 Jan. 2011) - Employees at the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) are expressing shock at an apparent deliberate management effort to sabotage contract negotiations.
Talks broke down last week after SIAST president Dr. Robert McCulloch attempted to coerce members into accepting a contract offer that was not in their best interests. In fact, the offer contained less than SIAST had previously put on the table during the protracted and difficult negotiations - which have been heavily influenced from behind the scenes by the Brad Wall government.
The SIAST president sent an e-mail to employees on Jan. 21, following the breakdown of mediation two days earlier.
The message said retroactive pay increases would be denied to SGEU members as of Feb. 19 if they had not ratified a collective agreement by that time.
“Our members are telling us that they are shocked and offended that the president of SIAST would resort to threats and intimidation to attempt to force them to accept an unfair and unreasonable offer,” says Jim Steele, chair of the academic negotiation committee for the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE).
“Communicating directly with union members to pressure them to vote on a management offer is not only improper and unacceptable, it is illegal,” Steele says.
“Members are responding directly to the president to say that they are offended and in some cases feel harassed by this inappropriate and coercive behavior,” adds Shawna North, vice-chair of SGEU’s professional services negotiating committee.
Members are pointing out to the president that the final contract offer tabled by SIAST management is not fair, contrary to what he alleges in his e-mail.
SGEU members note that a fair deal would mean a percentage increase in line with that given to faculty and administrative staff at the province’s universities.
University staff have received significantly higher increases than the 5.5% over three years offered to SIAST employees.
Some SGEU members have pointed out the obvious to McCulloch - that management’s final offer would mean virtually no real wage gain once rising cost of living erosion is taken into account. Given inflation forecasts for the next three years, it could translate into a real loss in purchasing power over the life of the contract.
“Given the serious recruitment and retention problem within SIAST, this offer not only undervalues the expertise of SIAST staff, it undermines the future of SIAST’s ability to deliver quality post-secondary education,” North argues.
“We are considering how best to respond to Bob McCulloch’s interference with the collective bargaining process. There is no doubt that this pressure tactic has further polarized the parties. We can only question the advice the SIAST president must be receiving from provincial government officials,” adds Steele.
“We should not have to remind SIAST management and the provincial government, which is directing negotiations from behind the scenes, that issues such as retroactive pay are negotiated by union and management at the bargaining table," he says.
"The employer has no right to make unilateral decisions and then take those decisions directly to union members to vote on. The collective bargaining process in this province is indeed corrupted if this way of doing business is considered acceptable."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE
More information:
• SGEU releases video to support SIAST employees
• Who runs SIAST? Check out the Bob McCulloch team - SIAST Organizational Chart
• Read The Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology Act