October 13th, 2011
Dear CUSSU members,
As you well know Concordia University has asked the Quebec Pay Equity Commission (QPEC) for the right to spread out the Pay Equity adjustments in several instalments over 4 years. The QPEC has been asking us for our comments and opinion on the matter. Last week, the CUSSU Council, after having received information as to the possible consequences of the demand, as well as the legal implications of such demand, adopted the following motion:
That CUSSU’s Executive Committee and Union Council Committee vote to reject the University’s request to the Pay Equity salary adjustment due to the members in 5 instalments over the 4 years.
Further to our email sent on September 26th, we would like to explain in more details the impact of the University’s request on the disbursements of the adjustments.
1) Monetary consequences of the payments by instalments
For the sake of a simple example, using a fictitious amount of money, lets state that we would get 1$ per hour of adjustment due.
Normally, the amount due would be: 1$ x 35 hours x 52 weeks = 1820$ per year, every year, compounded since 2001.
Concordia University would like to pay only 0,20$ in 2001 (members lose the 0,80$); only 0,40$ in 2002 (members lose the 0,60$), etc. The following table illustrates the total loss for this example:
|
|
Full payment |
Instalments |
Loss |
|
21-11-2001 – 21-11-2002 |
1 820 $ |
364$ |
1 456 $ |
|
21-11-2002 - 21-11-2003 |
1 820 $ |
728 $ |
1 092 $ |
|
21-11-2003 – 21-11-2004 |
1 820 $ |
1 092 $ |
728 $ |
|
21-11-2004 – 21-11-2005 |
1 820 $ |
1 456 $ |
364 $ |
|
Total for 5 years |
7 280 $ |
3 640 $ |
$ 3 640 |
CUSSU members would therefore lose 50% of the sums due over the first 5 years of the Pay Equity program.
In addition to this loss of capital, the interest paid by the University would also be less. The interest rate used for Pay Equity payments is set by law at 5%. Let us just mention that 5% interest of 364$ would be around 18$, whereas 5% interest of 1 820$ would be around 90$.
The financial consequences of Concordia’s demand to the QPEC are real losses for members who have been waiting for years for the completion of the Pay Equity program, and who should not be made to pay for the University’s lack of diligence, to say the least, in this matter.
You may have already given your comments to the Pay Equity Commission after they asked for comments and opinions. You may also have thought: what can I write to them, I don’t have enough information on the issue! That is why we are informing you of CUSSU’s official response and of the reasons behind it.
Again we ask you to object to the University’s request by submitting your comments to the Commission before October 20th, 2011. Please copy CUSSU on your reply to the Pay Equity Commission ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
Thank you,
CUSSU
Executive Committee
Union Council Committee
PS: The English version of the posting is now available on the Concordia University Pay Equity web site (http://equity.concordia.ca/documents/PayEquity-English.pdf)
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September 8th, 2011
As I am certain you are aware, Le Syndicat canadien des officiers de marine marchande, (SCOMM – SGW), which represents 65 tradespeople mostly at the Sir George Williams Campus of Concordia University was on strike on Wednesday and will be demonstrating every day for the following weeks.
They will be out demonstrating during their lunch hour (from 12 h 00 to 12 h 30 approximately) on the SGW campus.
A number of members have asked what they should do during a possible SCOMM strike (not during their lunch demonstrations).
1 CUSSU has a signed agreement in place with the University. As such, we must report to work even though SCOMM is on strike.
2. That being said, it is important that we show our support for our sister union and its members during their strike and demonstrations. Remember, we may need the SCOMM's support when we next negotiate with the University.
3. Should you arrive at work and encounter a picket line, we suggest that you do not immediately cross it. Rather, take a few minutes to chat with the folk on the picket line about the strike and the issues surrounding it. For example, you might ask about the state of the SCOMM negotiations, the reason why SCOMM has chosen to strike, what the SCOMM demands are and what the University has offered to support staff. In other words, show them the support you would like to receive if you were on the picket line. Do not worry you will not be alone; there will be plenty of people in the same situation as yourself.
Should you feel the least bit uncomfortable crossing the picket line, don't. Instead, call your immediate supervisor, inform him/her that you are at the university and are ready for work, but are unable to cross the picket line. Your supervisor will inform you what you should do next. More likely than not, your supervisor will arrange for you to be escorted in to work. Your supervisor will give you specific instructions as to where to meet with other employees who are in the same situation. Follow your supervisor's instructions precisely.
4. Your supervisor may ask you to do work that is normally done by SCOMM members. Please note that it is illegal for the employer to make such a request and it is illegal for you to perform any trades staff functions during the strike.
5. We ask that you show your support of the SCOMM strike by taking a few moments during your lunches to join with SCOMM members and show your support.
PS: Note that this message was prepared by CUPEU and sent to their members. CUPEU has accepted that we use their text to disseminate the information presented above.
The email list was created using data extracted this morning from the Human Resources online data source. If your email is incorrect, or if you know someone that is a CUSSU member who has not received this message, please send a message to Filomena de Gennaro, Secretary at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Danièle Berthiaume
President - CUSSU
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July 20th, 2011
Important notice regarding early retirement benefit under article 37.05
As some of you are aware, members have been requesting to benefit from the advantage of article 37.05 and have been writing to book their place many years in advance. This has resulted in the 5 places been filled up to the financial year 2020-21.
CUSSU is depositing its Collective Agreement Project with modifications to this article to allow for a better administration of this benefit. Due to this, members of the executive committee were mandated to meet with the University to request a moratorium on the application of this specific article. The University will no longer accept any NEW request under this article; all previously requests will be kept on file.
Please do not hesitate to contact CUSSU if you have any questions regarding this announcement.
Your Executive Committee