Text Size: A A A

PSAC members at St. Thomas University rejected the final offer made by the employer

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION January 8, 2015

PSAC members at St. Thomas University rejected the final offer made by the employer

FREDERICTON, NB – Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members from the St. Thomas University Staff and Administrative Union (STUSAU) Local 60701 held a vote yesterday and rejected the final offer made by St. Thomas University on Dec 29, 2014 and gave their negotiating team a strong strike mandate.

The PSAC negotiator conveyed the results late last night to the employer and the provincially appointed mediator. The negotiating team is awaiting further word on whether St. Thomas University will agree to return to the bargaining table with a new mandate to negotiate the outstanding issues and reach a tentative agreement. In the interim, no strike date has been set by the PSAC. Both the Union and St. Thomas University must provide 24 hours’ notice of any strike or lockout.

Jeannie Baldwin, Regional Executive Vice-President of PSAC Atlantic had the following to say about the situation: ‘These workers have been bargaining in good faith for more than four years in order to reach a fair collective agreement that reflects the important work they do. We hope that the employer will return to the bargaining table and negotiate the outstanding issues including job security.’

Negotiations for a first contract between St. Thomas University and PSAC have been ongoing since July 8, 2010 when the workers joined the PSAC and the New Brunswick Labour Board certified PSAC as the bargaining agent. This group represents 51 workers who work in office administration, facilities management, IT services, recruitment, academic advising, residence supervision, financial services and athletics.

- 30 -

Contacts:

Jennifer Burry, STUSAU local president, 506.262.0659

Sébastien Bezeau, Regional Political Communications Officer, PSAC, (cell) 902.266.8589