Bargaining Sessions 10 and 11
December 17 and 18
On December 17th and 18th, we met digitally with CLP management to continue negotiations over non-economic issues. We have found reasonable compromises on nearly all issues that had been proposed by both sides with the exception of UNE-8, shorts, which will carry over into negotiations in the New Year.
On the first day of negotiations, we proposed increasing the minimum staffing levels required to open a branch in our Health and Safety article, which would ensure safer working conditions for us and better service to the public. CLP management offered to agree if we accepted their proposals on Temporary Assignments and Attendance. We did not agree with their initial proposals, but after continued negotiation, they have revised these proposals into more acceptable terms that place limits on temporary assignments.
On Discipline, CLP management’s initial proposals suggested adding lots of reasons why members might be terminated and increasing the time during which discipline can be held against us. In this week’s negotiations, they’ve dropped most of those reasons and agreed to maintain the current duration of discipline of 1 year for most offenses and 3 for very serious offenses.
CLP management’s initial Vacancies proposal included an additional 90 day probationary period for internal job transfers. During this new 90 day probationary period, management would have the opportunity to disqualify a member and move them back to their previous role. Because we offered to withdraw our proposal for lower discipline for no call no shows, CLP management withdrew this proposal.
We will be beginning economic bargaining in the New Year, with our first bargaining session being held on January 6th. Economic bargaining includes topics such as vacation, paid leave, holidays, sick time, and wages.
Thank you all for your engagement, feedback and support this year. Our chances of improving our collective bargaining agreement continue to be dependent on the level of support that you, the membership, show. To see what you can do next, check the CAT’s call to action.
In Festive Solidarity,
The Bargaining Committee of USW 9562**