The University of Western Ontario Staff Association (UWOSA) will be holding a strike vote on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
UWOSA, which represents nearly 1,000 staff working in faculties and administrative units across campus, has been involved in four months of contract negotiations with the university. UWOSA Stewards’ Council recently decided to call for a strike vote, which will be put to the membership at a general meeting on Oct. 5 in the Great Hall.
The current contract agreement expired June 30.
Although there has been progress in the contract negotiations, the union cites many monetary and job security proposals among the many outstanding issues. In mid-August, UWOSA asked the Ontario Ministry of Labour to appoint a conciliator to assist the two parties in reaching an agreement. The next meeting with the conciliator is scheduled for October.
“It really is a case of making sure UWO sits up and takes notice,” says Stephanie Macleod, UWOSA vice-president. “We’ve reached a point in our negotiations where we do absolutely have to know that our membership is solidly behind us. We are confident that they are and it’s going to give them a chance to have a voice in this.”
In a media release, UWOSA points out that a positive vote does not mean the union will go on strike, as less than five per cent of strike votes have resulted in strikes.
This is not the first time UWOSA has sought a strike mandate from its members. In 2001, a meeting called for a strike vote became a ratification meeting of a new contract instead.
“We have a negotiation date set for October and we will be going ahead with negotiations. A strike vote doesn’t mean negotiations have stopped,” says Helen Connell, associate vice-president of communications and public affairs at Western. “We remain really optimistic and we will be working hard at the table to reach a negotiated settlement.”
Last week, The University of Western Ontario Faculty Association (UWOFA) Board voted in favour of holding a strike vote after authorization from its membership. UWOFA will hold a strike vote Wednesday-Friday of this week.