4 July 2000
CURRENT STATE OF NEGOTIATIONS
When negotiations commenced on 4 October 1999, President Meisen expressed the hope that negotiations would be completed by 15 December. This, despite his administration's seeking changes in nearly every article in the Collective Agreement.
Negotiations have now been ongoing for nine months. As reported in Negotiating News #9, by late April a considerable amount had been achieved, but administration and MUNFA positions remained far apart even on such a fundamental issue as workload. By mid-May, it became apparent to the MUNFA Negotiating Committee that no further substantial progress would be possible until the administration tabled responses to MUNFA's salary, early retirement and pension plan proposals. These have been in the administration's hands since 17 March 2000, 8 December 1999 and 4 October 1999 respectively.
Because we had repeatedly, and without result, asked across the negotiating table when we might expect responses to MUNFA's financial proposals, a meeting was sought with President Meisen. On 23 May, members of the MUNFA Negotiating Committee and Executive met with the President, Vice-President Simpson, and the administration's Chief Negotiator, Jack Strawbridge. There was a shared recognition that in order for negotiations to proceed expeditiously, the administration would have to produce its financial proposals. An understanding was reached that we should expect to receive across the negotiating table from the administration a package including salary and early retirement proposals, as well as a response to MUNFA's proposal for pension plan change, by 1 July. We followed up the meeting with a letter of 26 May to President Meisen, setting out this understanding.
MUNFA had earlier indicated to the administration's negotiators that until the administration tabled its financial proposals, MUNFA would not be tabling further proposals on those articles of the Collective Agreement with financial implications. The administration's negotiators seemed to understand our position. By early June, MUNFA was awaiting a response from the administration on 18 articles. Given these circumstances, at MUNFA's suggestion, negotiations were suspended from 12 to 26 June by mutual agreement. We were given to understand that the administration negotiators were preparing a package of financial proposals and revised proposals on other outstanding matters.
On 26 June negotiations reconvened. Despite the two week break, the administration side had responses to MUNFA proposals for only two articles, and no response on financial matters.
On 27 June, President Meisen, responding to MUNFA's letter of 26 May, advised MUNFA that the administration would not be in a position to table its proposals on salary and related matters at the beginning of July, but, rather, hoped to be able to have them in August. While we acknowledge and appreciate President Meisen's keeping MUNFA advised, this further delay is a source of serious concern.
MUNFA members should now anticipate that the future course of negotiations will be difficult.
MUNFA Negotiating Committee:
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