Hello Condors,
Over the last few months, Conestoga Students Inc. (CSI) has been providing updates on the collective bargaining process between the College Employer Council (CEC) and CAAT-A members.
Recently, the CEC called for a “Forced Offer Vote” of CAAT-A membership, requiring a union-wide vote on the proposed CEC collective agreement terms. Today, the results of the CEC requested offer vote have been released, with 62% of CAAT-A members voting to reject the offer, demonstrating the current offer from the CEC is not sufficient to conclude this round of bargaining.
The result of this vote could have a significant impact on the student experience if labour action is escalated. Both the CEC and CAAT-A have been vocal about their desire to avoid a disruption to the semester, and we do not expect any immediate escalation based on this desire.
We hope today’s vote will encourage both sides to return to the bargaining table to come to an equitable and mutually agreeable offer.
We also encourage students to share with us how a labour disruption, such as a strike, could affect your housing situation, your mental health, your academic success, and more. We will use your feedback to demonstrate to both sides the impact this could have and why they should continue negotiating in good faith for a mutually agreeable settlement. You can share your feedback with us, by clicking here to complete our online form.
We will continue to provide updates through our “CEC and CAAT-A Bargaining” webpage and other communication outlets as they become available. Click here to view the CEC and CAAT-A Bargaining webpage.
Sincerely,
Sana Banu
Your CSI President