Students wait for word on possible staff strikes at RRC Polytech, Assiniboine campuses after union votes

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This article was published 23/03/2023 (1020 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A wage dispute at two Manitoba colleges could end in a strike, although there is still time to reach agreement.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union held a series of strike-vote meetings this week with union members from Red River College Polytechnic and Assiniboine Community College.

“A strike is always the last option when working through the collective bargaining process, however our members have been falling behind in terms of wages and they want to catch up and keep up,” union president Kyle Ross said in an email Thursday.

The union represents roughly 1,900 members in the two post-secondary schools. Many work as instructors, administrators or in information-technology roles, Ross said.

The previous contracts for both colleges began in June 2017 and expired June 2021.

The strike vote ended Thursday night.

RRC Polytech alerted students and staff to the potential strike in an email Tuesday, saying the groups have been working to reach a new collective agreement since October 2021.

Assiniboine College, which is based in Brandon and has campuses in Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, sent a similar statement the same day.

“Despite ongoing efforts between the union and the college, we have yet to agree on the compensation package,” RRC Polytech said.

College officials met with the union March 7, offering wage increases that are “keeping with recent agreements negotiated in the public sector in Manitoba.”

“We need to find the right balance to ensure that we can increase compensation to our employees while maintaining the college’s financial sustainability,” it said in the email.

RRC Polytech staff received a salary increase of 1.75 per cent in the last contract, according to the collective bargaining agreement.

The statement assured students that a strike may not happen, even if union members vote in support of the action.

“RRC Polytech is committed to bargaining in good faith with the union…. We know that our staff and faculty are essential to creating a working and learning environment central to our students’ success,” spokesman Conor Lloyd said in an email Thursday.

Lloyd could not discuss specifics while negotiations are ongoing, nor comment on how strike action could impact students.

Manpreet Kaur, president of the RRC Student Association said “students are very concerned.”

“We hope that discussions and an agreement between both parties will happen, and that no disruption will occur,” Kaur said in an email. “Students are looking to the end of the term and graduation and any disruption will be difficult.”

The association learned of the potential strike at the same time as students, and has not been consulted by either party. Association members plan to meet with school officials next week for more information, Kaur said.

Assiniboine College and RRC Polytech are providing negotiation updates online.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca