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November 9, 2007
We met with the employer again November 5 and 6 in Regina. In addition to your negotiating committee, three representatives of the pension committee were also present. Discussions on November 5 focused on the pension plan. A representative of the actuarial firm on contract with the employer was present and provided his views about the current state of the plan and contribution rates.
CEP 481’s negotiating committee had clear instruction from the October 20, 2007 special meeting: do not negotiate any changes to the pension plan provisions except changes to the wage rates that would help to neutralize the impact of contribution increases. We used the opportunity of having the actuary present to gain information and clarification about our pension.
It was clear that the employer wanted to spend the entire two days talking only about pensions, and that they wanted us to agree to negotiate changes to the plan. Spokesperson Bob Bymoen stated that, while he had no preconceived view of what those changes should be, he did have direction that the plan should require no more than 9% contribution rates from each party. It was obvious from what the actuary had said that nothing short of drastic restructuring of the plan and its benefits would result in such a lowering of contribution rates in the near future.
On the morning of November 6, we told the employer that we understood that they had concerns about pensions, but that we had concerns about the wage rates that dated back to the start of bargaining on November 8, 2005. We said that we needed to see them move off of their earlier position now. To that end, we presented a without-prejudice proposal that contained only the following:
1. Increases to the rates of:
1% July 1, 2005
1% July 1, 2006
2.6% January 1, 2007
3.5% July 1, 2007
5% July 1, 2008
2. A signing bonus of $1,500 to all employees on staff as of July 1, 2005 (in recognition of no way increase on July 1, 2004).
3. The list of previously agreed-to items arising from bargaining between November 3, 2005 and January 23, 2006.
4. A four-year agreement from July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2009.
The employer stated that its position had not changed since late May: they needed significant concessions on the sick bank and were offering 1% July 1, 2005 and 2% July 1, 2006 in a contract that would expire June 30, 2007.
We stated that that was unacceptable and that we were finished discussions, but that they knew how to get ahold of us.
At that point, approximately 1:00 p.m., we called the Saskatoon and Prince Albert offices and went to the Regina office to call all employees to leave the job and take strike action. At approximately 3:00 p.m., Bob Bymoen presented two CEP members with a letter for our local president advising that we were being locked out.
Thank you all for your prompt response to the strike call and for your support, strength, and commitment since then. We are all working hard to set up effective administration, communication, and planning systems. Your good ideas and your determination will help us win this battle.
In solidarity,
Interim chair of the negotiating committee
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