Union seeks to maintain pension and benefits, achieve new wage scale
McGill University’s 1,700 non-academic employees have voted in favour of striking if their union and the institution are unable to reach a collective agreement.
UPDATE: McGill University non-academic staff on strike
The workers provide services such as student affairs, course registration, laboratory support, and student residence management.
“The time has come for the university to recognize our hard work and our contribution to the quality of life students enjoy at McGill University,” asserts McGill University Non-Academic Certified Association (MUNACA) president Kevin Whittaker.
MUNACA says it is seeking similar working wages and conditions to colleagues in neighbouring Quebec universities, like the Université de Montréal and the Université du Québec à Montréal. This includes maintaining their pension, benefits and scheduling rights.
The union also says that its members do not have a “proper wage scale” as they must wait over 35 years to reach the regular salary for their position.
The university has not commented.
Negotiations for a new contract began in December 2010 and are scheduled to continue on August 25, 2011.
MUNACA members are represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
