CUPE University News
philipcox April 24, 2013 Uncategorized
Athabasca tutors speak out against cut backs APR 24, 2013
EDMONTON – The union representing 300 tutors, academic experts, markers, and lab instructors at Athabasca University is joining the growing chorus of voices against cut backs to Alberta's post-secondary institutions.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 3911 said today that broken promises by the Redford government make it harder for Albertans who want to pursue their education online–especially those who live in rural communities, remote areas, and Aboriginal communities–to access a post-secondary education.
"Athabasca University serves a unique segment of the population – one that can't go to school in a traditional bricks and mortar university," said spokesperson Dr. Mark Dimirsky. "By forcing Athabasca to cut back, the government is effectively limiting access to education to students who have few other options. Ironically, the open nature and accessibility of AU fulfills the entire e-campus initiative. The cuts make little sense." Full story http://cupe.ca/education/athabasca-tutors-speak-cut
Simon Fraser University guilty verdict sticks APR 24, 2013
BURNABY – The BC Labour Relations Board has rejected an SFU bid to overturn a ruling that it is bargaining in bad faith with its 1,000 CUPE Local 3338 employees. The decision was announced on Monday.
The original unfair labour practices judgment was handed down by the LRB back in January. The decision was based on SFU's insistence on tying changes to the multi-party SFU pension plan to collective bargaining with CUPE.
SFU has been fighting the ruling since January and no other progress has been made in stalled contract talks. Every other public community college and university in the province has settled new collective agreements with their CUPE workers. All the university settlements were reached last year with the exception of SFU, whose CUPE workers have now been without a contract for over three years! Full story http://cupe.ca/bargaining/simon-fraser-university-guilty-verdict