[Chad]

McMaster Support Staff Strike Looms...

Come September 4th, over 2,200 support staff at McMaster may be going on strike. If this happens, students can expect long lines, shortened hours, and delays from Faculty Offices, The Registrar's Office, The Financial Aid Office, UTS (which runs SOLAR, MUGSI, etc) and all other important support services such as the Librarys and Titles Bookstore. Students driving into campus can also expect delays entering as there will most likely be a lineup as cars are slowed down through the picket lines. Classes will still be on and as regularly scheduled. The school will remain open.

For those who are unaware of the situation, or haven't seen the forum discussion, the university is wanting to phase out the Pension Plan for new employees and replace it with a Group RRSP plan. Read McMaster's Employer Fact Sheet here, or the Local 555's FAQ sheet here. The CAW, Local 555 Unit 1 (which is the Union representing the support workers) believes the plan the University is proposing is not a good deal. The Union had an internal vote and were in favor of a strike if the University did not make a better offer. The University made a final offer on August 20th, which still called for the abolishment of the Pension Plan. The Local 555 rejected the final offer and have their own proposal. The University now wants to have the Union members individually vote to see whether they personally reject or accept the offer. Even though the Union would like to strike, the University can request a member vote. This vote will most likely take place, according to The Hamilton Spectator, on Wednesday or Thursday. The Local 555 came to an agreement with the university to shift the potential strike date from September 1st to September 4th. If the members choose to say no to the offer and bring the University back to the bargaining table, a strike will likely happen on September 4th.

Hamilton Spectator Article (Aug 26)

Daily News Article (Aug 26)

[micadjems]

Pshhh, most unions would say "Give us a milllllllllllllion dollars!" and the establishment would be like, ok, we can give you 500k. And they'd say "NO DEAL!" and run away with our services >: (

[rrtt]

It seems like strikes are happening everywhere! I am just relieved that Mac will remain open and classes will continue regardless of what happens on September 4.

[macsci]

Sad day for all!

[feonateresa]

Let's hope the support staff won't behave like a lot of unions do these days should they strike; like refusing every offer and prolonging frustrating circumstances to an unbearable point.

[webzn]

So help me god if there is a strike, lol.

[ferreinm]

The support workers are asking for things that are fair including MAINTAINING their pension plan because the university wants to get rid of it for all new hires. They aren't asking for a pay raise or anything like that at all. People are blowing things out of proportion. Please do your research before posting all of your assumptions on MacInsiders.

[Afzal]

always the students who suffer :(
the university should just maintain the existing employees' plans and not for the new hires...simple

[reeves]

Originally Posted by ferreinm

The support workers are asking for things that are fair including MAINTAINING their pension plan because the university wants to get rid of it for all new hires. They aren't asking for a pay raise or anything like that at all. People are blowing things out of proportion. Please do your research before posting all of your assumptions on MacInsiders.

According to the final offer, they will maintain their current pension. New hires, effective Sept 15, 2009, will get the "Group RRSP", instead of the "Contributary Pension Plan for Salried Employees". Or at least that's what the school is hoping to accomplish. It sounds lik McMaster is proposing an arbitrator decide which one. Which is fair enough.

So basically, IF the strike occurs, they're striking for people that don't even work there yet, and are therefore not even union members. At least as far as the retirement package is concerned. No way I'm reading that entire document

[hyvaa]

Honestly, I am sick of these strikes. I don't really care who's right. I only care about the strike itself.
Everyone who suffered from a ton of garbage in Toronto would agree with me...
I hope I don't regret choosing mac..

[reeves]

Originally Posted by hyvaa

Honestly, I am sick of these strikes. I don't really care who's right. I only care about the strike itself.
Everyone who suffered from a ton of garbage in Toronto would agree with me...
I hope I don't regret choosing mac..

I hear that! I finally get my shit together and go back to school, do my research, pick a school, and this starts. It better not come to a strike.

[crucif3x]

Well they are fighting for something that they have always been "entitled" to. I think that's fair. I know, yes, they already have really good jobs especially compared to the thousands of employed people out there (one of my parent included) but the thing is, many have worked long and hard to establish their pension and just taking it away is a bit cruel no? I think that's a fair reason to fight.

But at the same time, it shouldn't get out of hand and affect the students or any party that's not immediately involved, that's where it should stop. When a strike gets out of hand (like the Toronto Garbage Strike) and other people become a bargaining chip, that's when someone should just step in and stop it.

Although I don't want them to strike, I can empathize in their cause. It's not like they're trying to get more than what they were entitled to (like a pay raise). They just want what they were promised when they were hired. Is that so wrong?

[reeves]

Originally Posted by crucif3x

Well they are fighting for something that they have always been "entitled" to. I think that's fair. I know, yes, they already have really good jobs especially compared to the thousands of employed people out there (one of my parent included) but the thing is, many have worked long and hard to establish their pension and just taking it away is a bit cruel no? I think that's a fair reason to fight.

No ones taking that away, or even trying to. Not anymore, anyways. It's about new hires, and what retirement package they will get.

[crucif3x]

Oh... really? Well then there's no reason to strike at all... LOL