newsletter - member update nl (3). title microsoft word - newsletter - member update nl (3).docx...
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A wage freeze means real wage losses NewfoundlandandLabradorworkers–includinghealthcareworkers,schoolboardworkers,long-termcareworkers,libraryworkers,transitionhomeworkers,NLHousingandothers–havebeenwaitingyearsforadecentpayincrease.Betterwagesarenecessarytogettheeconomygrowing.Formostworkers,thecollectivebargainingprocessistheonlytoolattheirdisposaltocontroltheirwages,whilethecostoflivingrises.Votingontheircollectiveagreementisameanstoprotecttheirincome.Whenaunionmembervotesonacollectiveagreement,they’renotjustprotectingthemselves–they’reprotectingtheirfamily,theircommunity,andthefutureforgenerationsofworkers.Whenplanningtheirownhouseholdbudget,unionmembersshouldplanforthefouryearsofthecurrentcontractplusthetwoyearsitmaytaketonegotiatethenextcontract.InproposalspresentedtoCUPEbytheProvince’snegotiators,theBallGovernmenthasputforwardafour-yearwagefreezeonpublicsectorworkers,fortheperiodofApril1,2016toMarch31,2020.Thismeansrealwagelossesprojectedas11.1%compounded(astherisingcostoflivingoutpaceswagegains)inthefour-yearperiodofthecontractwearecurrentlynegotiating.Thisattackonpublicsectorwageswilldoseriousdamagetotheeconomy.Continuedonpage2
MEMBER UPDATE
What is a concess ion?
Concessionbargainingisatermusedinnegotiationsinwhichtheemployeraskstheuniontogivebackpreviouslygainedimprovementsinpayandconditions.Theemployermayalsoproposetwo-tiercontractswithlowerwages,benefits,andworkingconditions.Thiswouldseememberswhoworkside-by-sidebeingpaiddifferentratesofpay,withaccesstodifferentbenefits,andevendifferentpensionsuponretirement.Two-tierprovisionsareconsideredaconcession.Acceptingconcessionsisnoguaranteeyou’llevergetbackwhatyou’velost.Ifaunionhasahistoryofconcessionbargaining,theemployeristhatmuchmorelikelytoask.Itisimportanttorememberthateveryitemthatisinourcollectiveagreementissomethingthatbargainingteamsofthepasthavefoughthardtogetandtoprotect.
Continuedfrompage1Suppressingpublicsectorwageswilleventuallydrivedownprivatesectorwages.IftheProvinceisseriousaboutgrowingtheeconomy,theyshouldnotattackwagesorretirementincome.Labourcompensationandhouseholdspendingareresponsibleforwelloverhalfofourcountry’snationalincomeandspendingandformorethan60percentofoureconomicgrowthsince2009.Householdshavemaintainedconsumerspendingbyincreasingtheirdebttorecordlevelsandleveragingequityintheirhomesashousepriceshaveescalated.Thishasbeenaffordablewithlowinterestrates,butwon’tbesustainableasinterestratesriseandrealestatepricesplateauordecline.
Increaseinthecostofliving*-NewfoundlandandLabrador
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
2.7%
2.6%
2.9%
2.4%
2.4%
2.6%
Iflabourcompensationandconsumerspendingdon’tincreaseatadecentandsustainablepace,thenoureconomywon’tgrowatadecentpaceeither.Thechartbelowcanbeusedtoestimatehowmuchyouwillloseifyourwagesremainthesameduringthisfour-yearperiod,plusthetwoyearsitmaytaketonegotiatethenextcollectiveagreement.
AnnualWages WageLosses
2016 2017 2018 2019
20000 520 540 580 480
30000 780 810 870 720
40000 1040 1080 1160 960
50000 1300 1350 1450 1200
60000 1560 1620 1740 1440
70000 1820 1890 2030 1680
*Source:The2017EconomicReview-FallForecast,NewfoundlandandLabradorDepartmentofFinance
CUPE sets plan to fight concessions and two-tier bargaining TheNationalExecutiveBoardisreaffirmingCUPE’scommitmenttofightingconcessionsandtwo-tiercontractprovisions,anddefendingthefreecollectivebargainingrightsofitsmembers.AtameetinginDecemberlastyear,theNEBapprovedarevisedpolicyoncollectivebargainingthatsetsoutaplantoensureCUPElocalsandmembersarefullypreparedtofightbackagainstattacksduringbargaining.“WorkersdidnotjoinCUPEinordertomovebackwards,tolosewagesorbenefits,orlowertheirworkingconditions.Theyjoinedourunionsotheycouldmoveforward,withabetterworklife,moresecureemployment,andsafeworkingconditions,”saidMarkHancock,nationalpresidentofCUPE.“Wehaveanobligationtoourmemberstoresistconcessions,two-tiercontractprovisions,andprecariouswork.Ifacontractprovisionisnotgoodenoughforourcurrentmembers,itisnotgoodenoughforthenextgenerationofworkerseither.”Therevisedpolicyoutlinesrolesandresponsibilitiesofallelectedleadersandstaffinfightingconcessions,resistingtwo-tiercontractproposalsfromemployers,anddefendingthefreecollectivebargainingrightsofCUPEmembers.ReadthefullNEBPolicyonCollectiveBargainingathttps://cupe.ca/sites/cupe/files/gm/20170628/collective-bargaining-policy.pdf.