Despite U of T Press’s wishes, more of their employees have decided to go the union route.
Part-time warehouse employees voted last Wednesday to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). Turnout was unusually high, with 35 of the approximately 50 employees showing up to cast their ballot. Of the 35, an overwhelming majority voted yes.
“I think it’s absolutely wonderful. I find it particularly satisfying with casual employees who are tenuously employed to take this step,” said Derek Blackadder, the university coordinator for CUPE. “I know how easy it is for employers to put pressure on people in this situation.”
The pressure came in the form of a public letter posted on Feb. 3 by UTP administration. Signed by Kathryn Bennett, the Senior Vice President of UTP, the memo advised workers of the disadvantages of unionizing.
Whether the letter is 100 per cent legal is questionable. Technically, employers are not allowed to try to affect the outcome of a vote.
Although Blackadder claims that CUPE is looking into the matter, they will not be taking any action against UTP. “The employees need to establish a working relationship with their employer,” he said. “What would a complaint to the board [the Ontario Labour Board] serve?”
The letter clearly states UTP’s position on the vote: “While it is your decision, we do not welcome CUPE’s application to represent the part time staff of the Warehouse,” Bennett wrote. “We prefer to deal directly with you, and we do not believe you need to pay union dues to an outside agency to speak on your behalf.”
Mehdi Kouhestaninejad, President of local branch CUPE 3261, condemned the letter as unfair and patronizing. He pins UTP’s adversity to the union on their profit-driven focus.
“Our relationship wasn’t that healthy…because usually we ask for a solution, they basically see this as a bottom line, as making money. They look at it not as a labour management issue, but as a business issue.”
Kouhestaninejad hinted that strained relations with UTP may have led the part-timers to seek out CUPE’s representation.
UTP’s letter stressed that due to a decrease in profitability, they could only offer limited wage increases and improvements in working conditions. This, they assure employees, is to guarantee the survival of the company.
“It is not uncommon for a trade union to make grand promises to employees…” the memo states. “Regardless of what the union may promise you, the Press will never agree to pay more than we believe that we can afford.”
The bad blood between CUPE and UTP has its roots in a number of past disputes. Most notable was a 13-week strike in the summer of 2000. Wages were the primary concern for the strikers, the part-time employees at the U of T Bookstore. After several tense negotiations, the workers scored a four per cent raise over two years.
The strike caused uproar among professors and students. Approximately 100 profs boycotted the bookstore until a settlement was reached.
CUPE already represents the full-time warehouse employees as well as the part-timers at the bookstore.
UTP administration could not be reached for comment.
