The Ontario Ministry of Labour has named Greg Long as the conciliator to meet with representatives from Western and CUPE Local 2692 and assist with negotiations.
CUPE Local 2692 represents 574 food services assistants, food supervisors, cooks, chefs and food stores persons in Western’s Hospitality Services department. Their current collective agreement expired on June 30, 2012 and the two sides have had three negotiation meetings to date.
“Conciliation is common practice in contract negotiations and we are hopeful this step will help advance talks and move us closer to an agreement,” said Helen Connell, Western’s associate vice-president, Communications & Public Affairs.
Conciliation is a process through which either a union or employer can apply to the Ministry of Labour for help in resolving differences between the two parties so they can reach a collective agreement.
Connell said the food services workers play a very valuable role in ensuring the experience students, faculty and staff have at Western is exemplary. She added, however, these are challenging times in which to be negotiating, with the provincial government having set clear expectations that all public sector institutions, including universities, should hold the line on wage increases.
“With the assistance of a conciliator, we remain optimistic that we’ll be able to reach an agreement with the food services workers that is both reasonable and responsible,” she said.
For further updates, visit the contract negotiations website.