Capilano University settles teachers dispute as staff strike looms

Just as one labour dispute at Capilano University is coming to an end, another one is beginning.

The administration and Capilano Faculty Association reached a tentative five-year deal this week after a months’ long strike that saw the last days of class cancelled and final exams temporarily postponed.

The deal includes a 5.5 per cent pay increase, a few services added to benefits, enshrining academic freedom in the collective bargaining agreement and the creation of a joint committee to deal with job security and benefits for part-time employees.

Rick Gale, Capilano’s academic vice-president, expressed relief to have a deal, which lasts until March 2019, in place.

“I think it’s fair to say that both sides have put a lot of work into this and have been able to achieve something. I’m not sure that either side is completely happy or enthralled about this but we’re to a place where we can at least get some more business done,” he said.

The last three years have been rife with acrimony between faculty and the administration over program cuts, academic freedom and the school’s leadership. Gale said he believes this deal will help put that to rest.

“I honestly think there have been a lot of things that were brought out in this negotiation that needed to be brought out. I think we’re turning a corner. I think we’re coming to agreement, or at least agreement to disagree, on some things. It puts us in a pretty good place for the next five years. It puts us in a place of clarity at the very least,” he said.

But, as Cap’s negotiators were shaking hands with the faculty’s negotiators, the school’s non-faculty staff voted 82 per cent in favour of a strike after contract talks between the two sides have failed to progress.

Canadian Office & Professional Employees Union local 378 is characterizing the university’s last offer as “absolutely concessionary.”

According to Sage Aaron, COPE 378’s communications director, the university is seeking the ability to terminate employees on leave, regressive changes to layoff language, reduce the minimum hours a called-in employee works from four to two, put weekend travel on employees’ own time without compensation, and changes to the prescription drug plan that makes it more expensive for members.

“It was very clear their position was not about bargaining. This was reiterated with their last proposal, which they basically dropped on us and said ‘Take it or leave it.’ They’re not interested in having a conversation and coming to an understanding,” Aaron said.

The union must still give 72 hours’ notice before starting any kind of job action, whether it be walking off the job and picketing, work-to-rule or handing out pamphlets.

Gale said he’s hoping that won’t be necessary as there is at least one more mediation session scheduled.

“I hope that’s not going to happen. We, of course, are making contingency plans. It’s a little easier in the summer than it was at the end of the spring term, obviously,” he said.